When Jack Miller stepped straight out of Moto3 after missing the title by just two points, there were a few doubters. Too much too soon, for a 20-year-old with distinct wild-man tendencies.

There were others who thought him wise to sidestep Moto2, from whence a number of good riders have found it impossible to escape.

A string of crashes seemed to suggest that the first faction had a point, and they continued this year. But they masked a steady learning curve, a raising of his level – in spite of a Honda that proved a handful this year even to Márquez and Pedrosa.

Assen handed him the chance to prove, as he put it, “that I’m not an idiot. I can ride a motorcycle.”

Since then, his season has been sobering. He led for a spell in Germany, but crashed in warm-up in Austria, and paid a heavy price: fractures in his spine and his right wrist and hand. It was the latter that caused the most problems, putting him out at Brno, out of the points in Silverstone, and out again for San Marino and Aragon.

Hopefully back to full strength, Jack will be anxious to show his home fans his growing ability. He deserves to count on them, as they count on him.