1. Marc Márquez is flying

Would the 25-year-old Spaniard take his foot off the gas after becoming the youngest-ever four-time MotoGP World Champion in 2017? Absolutely not. If anything, the Honda rider looks better and more focused than ever. He’s won in America, Spain and France, he’s opened up a sizeable gap at the top of the riders’ standings, and he remains the man to beat at every single Grand Prix.

2. There’s a fast but frustrating Frenchman

When it comes to qualifying, Johann Zarco is tough to beat. But in spite of claiming two of the first five pole positions of the campaign, last season’s Rookie of the Year has yet to record a MotoGP win. So what’s going wrong with the 27-year-old come race day? “This pressure is very new and he is not riding like he can, which is a normal process,” says Zarco’s Monster Yamaha team boss Hervé Poncharal. “I think he is clever and hopefully he has been thinking about this and digesting it.”

3. Cal Crutchlow is back in form

After a 2017 season he described as “average”, Crutchlow was determined to get off to a flying start in 2018. And the British rider has done just that, with a fourth place in Qatar, a pole position in the Spanish GP and a win in Argentina. On his day, it’s impossible to take your eyes off him. Find out more about Crutchlow with our guide.

4. Valentino Rossi is still making headlines

He may have only won three races in the past two seasons, but seven-time champion Rossi has received more coverage than just about any other rider this year. This is partly because he’s shown some impressive speed on his way to podium finishes in Qatar and France. But it’s mainly due to his ongoing rivalry with championship leader Márquez. “He has destroyed our sport,” blasted Rossi after Márquez caused him to crash in Argentina. “When you go 300km per hour on the track, you have to have a respect for your rivals and he doesn’t.” Ooh-er.

5. Andrea Dovizioso needs a big finish

Last season, Dovizioso won six races on his way to finishing runner-up in the MotoGP World Championship. This season, he was supposed to challenge Márquez for the title. Unfortunately, retirements in Spain and France have stalled the Italian’s progress. But when the Ducati rider won last year’s race in Catalunya, it sparked a run of five victories in the last 12 races of the season and a charge up the riders’ table. Watch this space…

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