Burgess defends Rossi's tyre move

Rossi was adamant that the strong form of Bridgestone rubber last season played a key factor in him not being able to take the fight to Casey Stoner - and was not afraid of turning his back on Michelin after enjoying several title successes with them.

Although that behaviour prompted some to label Rossi a bad loser, Burgess thinks that Rossi had no choice if he was to increase his chances of landing another MotoGP crown.

"I think the tyre situation is exactly how professional people handle things," Burgess said in an interview with Motor Cycle News.

"He was aware of what he needed to improve, or believed he knew what he needed to improve his performance, and without that product he didn't think he could achieve it.

"He was in a position to push to the very end, even perhaps to throw his last card on the table and say, 'well I won't race unless I get Bridgestones, that's how important it is to me.'"

He added: "Alarm bells would have been ringing because Valentino probably pulls anywhere between 20 and 60 percent of the crowd at any European race.

"When he didn't get the tyres through the usual channels he needed to play his trump card, as any businessman would. I just think that's normal.

"There has been no criminality or underhand dealing going on, so the fact Bridgestone is super-keen to work with Valentino and he wants to use the tyres is a normal things that happens during the course of negotiations at the end of every season."