(05-09-2018, 08:21 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: He's recognized as one of the most well respected, nicest, quietest, talented guys on the circuit by everyone. Clean rider. Probably why he has never won a premier class championship.He's not aggressive enough. He has won 3 World Championships (1) 125 and (2) 250. He's also had the misfortune of having to race against Rossi, Stoner and Marquez in the premier class during his career., some of the most talented guys to ever throw a leg over a racing motorcycle with what 17 championships between them? There are a whole lot of very talented motorcycle racers that haven't won premier class championships racing against those three (Hayden once and Lorenzo twice.. that's it, I think). BTW in 2002 when he was 125 champion, the next years champion was Andrea Dovisioso who has also not won a premier class championship.

Chances are if he had not crashed twice this year, once caused by Zarco and once caused by Lorenzo, he would have at least 2 thirds ( assuming Dovi would have got past him into second at Jerez) and 2 sevenths in four races, would have at least 50 points and would at least be tied with Vinales for third in the championship, instead of in 11 th.

He has won GP races in 16 seasons straight, 12 of those years in the premier class, and if he wins a race this year he will have won more GP's than any other Honda rider, and has the 7th most Grand Prix wins in the history of the sport. Not bad for a guy 5'2 112# deemed too small to be a premier class MotoGP racer. If Dani has one drawback it's that he is pretty fragile. Aren't many seasons he gets to run all the races on the calendar due to an injury. His chances of winning a WC in the premier class are basically over, his best years are behind him. STill, he has had one heck of a career racing very fast motorcycles.