Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) – three big names on the grid, and three men who really, really want to win. At the half-way point of the season, we take stock of what they're aiming for...
Rossi is, 46 points behind Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), the man who could probably gain the most. Already impatiently looking towards the Brno test and more updates from Yamaha, the ‘Doctor’ has been on a podium roll of late but not on the top step. It’s Yamaha’s worst victory drought since before the rider from Tavullia joined the ranks, and he’ll be pushing hard to change that as we gear up for the last ten races of the year.
Dani Pedrosa, meanwhile, has a different kind of record on his mind. After announcing his retirement at the end of 2018, the ‘Little Samurai’ has chance to add to an incredible statistic if he’s able to take a win this season: in the last 16 seasons, the Spaniard has won at least one Grand Prix. That’s unique, and to extend it to 17 with a win in 2018 would be an awesome final addition to his CV before he hangs up his leathers and becomes a MotoGP™ Legend.
And what of Zarco? The Frenchman is enduring a dip in form of late, after having taken two podiums and two poles in the first five races. Germany was his worst qualifying result since the same track a year before, and neither was the two-time Moto2™ Champion really able to make a dent in the big battle at the front in Assen. Leaving for KTM at the end of the season, the clock is ticking for Zarco in 2018…