Ever since I saw this kid winning in Texas in 2013 (pic below showing the difference in riding styles b/w him and his teammate), I was hooked. Watching him mature last year and this year has been sensational. Three seasons ago he was rash and overriding an okay bike. Last year he learned to take what he's got and get the best out of it. This year was more of the same, but with more verve at the end of races. He's not perfect, but he's the complete package. I think he'll end up my favorite motorsports personality. Of course, he is 24, so he has plenty of time to disappoint me - like Rossi did in Malaysia 2 years ago...
I watched him wreck this weekend with 2 minutes left in qualy, and not only did he get hurt or shake his head or slump his shoulders. He booked it back to the pits and got his backup bike out for a shakedown lap in the dying seconds. Crazy. And then when he avoided falling in T1 with 6 laps left, I have NEVER seen a rider lay down the bike and pick it back up and ride on.
Another one for good measure:
I watched him wreck this weekend with 2 minutes left in qualy, and not only did he get hurt or shake his head or slump his shoulders. He booked it back to the pits and got his backup bike out for a shakedown lap in the dying seconds. Crazy. And then when he avoided falling in T1 with 6 laps left, I have NEVER seen a rider lay down the bike and pick it back up and ride on.