Michael and Eugene Laverty are not only good riders, they're far more objective voices and both have a history of good on-track manners.
Quoting Casey Stoner's opinion on this subject? You'd get less biased statements out of Max Biaggi. Here's a guy with remarkable riding talent that rises to the top, beats Rossi in 2007...only to get taken down again, and all the love and adulation of the world's bike fans never materializes - they all still love Rossi. So yeah, he's a little bitter.
You know, I realized that winning and talent is only a part of the equation of determining fandom, and a minor one at that. I like Rossi because he's smart, and if I were to ride the canyons one day with someone, I'd pick Rossi. Pedrosa wouldn't be as jovial and fun but he's a good guy; he'd be fun to ride with too.
Stoner? A day riding with Stoner. Well, whining about gas, whining about his gear not fitting right, whining about the weather, whining about traffic, whining about where we're going to eat, ad nauseum.
Or the best, Lorenzo. You get to listen to him talk about how awesome he is all freaking day long, how he nailed every curve perfectly, how he got so far ahead of you then had to wait for you.
It's no mystery why there are so many rabid Rossi fans. He's LIKEABLE as a person.