I think Max is very misunderstood.
He's clearly one of the best racers of all time, and didn't even start racing until he 18, unlike Rossi who was a World Champion at the same age!!
Not many people have won 4 x 250 titles in a row, and in 14 consecutive seasons he's never finished lower than 5th in the championship, and that was this season.
His career is only second to Rossi (as current riders go)...
2005 - 5th - MotoGP
2004 - 3rd - MotoGP
2003 - 3rd - MotoGP
2002 - 2nd - MotoGP
2001 - 2nd - 500cc
2000 - 3rd - 500cc
1999 - 4th - 500cc
1998 - 2nd - 500cc
1997 - 1st - 250cc
1996 - 1st - 250cc
1995 - 1st - 250cc
1994 - 1st - 250cc
1993 - 4th - 250cc
1992 - 5th - 250cc
Having said all that, I find him irritating and he moans more than me!!!