Others - 1 Marquez - 1

Just when you thought Marc was out of the game, he rallies back. At half-time, it’s...

- Amaan Ahmed

For someone who is only a casual follower of MotoGP, a cursory look through that standings would seem pretty normal at the mid-point of the 2017 season. The circus heads into the summer break with its reigning champion very much in control, sitting comfortably at the top of the pile.

But that’s the thing with what’s on paper: it is, more often than not, an illusion.

This is, by far and away, Marc Marquez’s toughest year in MotoGP so far. Yes, he had an awful time in 2015, but that was brought about by a string of failures. This year, Marquez has to fend off the brand new threat of Maverick Vinales, the undying spirit of Valentino Rossi, the doggedness of Dani Pedrosa and the resurgence of underdog supreme Andrea Dovizioso.

And so far, he hasn’t done badly at all.