I’ve always loved two wheels and I can’t remember a time when my life didn’t revolve around motorcycles. My Dad used to race bikes at a lower level and it’s a passion that he shared with me and my twin brother Alex, who now rides in World Superbikes and is still my favourite training buddy.
My parents bought me my first bike at a very young age and I started racing motocross at eight years old. I loved it from the very first moment and that has never changed. I’m still totally passionate about what I do and grateful at how fortunate I am to be doing this as my job.
It’s in my nature to try to be the very best I can be, regardless of the other riders around me, and I’m confident that my positive attitude, self-belief and enjoyment of what I do will help me to gain even more success than I’ve enjoyed already. Being crowned the 2013 World Supersport Champion was, without doubt, my biggest achievement so far – right up there with earning a ride in the premier class of MotoGP™ in 2017.
My MotoGP™ debut, as most of you will have witnessed, was tough and I faced a lot of challenges on what I always knew would be a very steep learning curve. My rookie year didn’t end the way I had hoped it would, but that won’t deter me from continuing to focus on being the best I can – on and off track. I learnt a lot from my time in MotoGP™ and I hope I may get back there one day, but for now my focus is on the Moto2 championship.
I know I have another World Championship title in me, if not more, and the most recent 2020 season has proved that. Placing third in the overall standings and riding as if my life depended on it on many occasions, I made made history by becoming the first rider to record three consecutive wins in the intermediate class since Phil Read.
While I may have missed out on the Moto2 World Title, I am proud of my ride and the support of my team and all the loyal fans makes me more determined than ever to realise my potential and push harder next season.
