Yeah, Pedrosa seems getting less and less competitive nowadays. But if Zarco stays at Yamaha then he might replace VR once he retires!

Points standing:

1. ^1 Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 56 points
2. ˅1 Maverick Viñales SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 50 points (-6)
3. ^5 Marc Marquez SPA Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 38 points (-18)
4. ˅1 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 30 points (-26)
5. = Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 29 points (-27)
6. ^4 Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 27 points (-29)
7. ^4 Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 22 points (-34)
8. ˅2 Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 21 points (-35)
9. ˅5 Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 21 points (-35)
10. ˅3 Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 21 points (-35)
11. ^2 Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 17 points (-39)
12. ˅3 Alvaro Bautista SPA Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 14 points (-42)
13. ^5 Jorge Lorenzo SPA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 12 points (-44)
14. ˅2 Aleix Espargaro SPA Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 10 points (-46)
15. NA Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 9 points (-47)
16. ˅2 Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 9 points (-47)
17. ˅2 Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 8 points (-48)
18. ^1 Tito Rabat SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 8 points (-48)
19. ˅2 Hector Barbera SPA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 8 points (-48)
20. ˅4 Alex Rins SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 7 points (-49)
21. ˅1 Pol Espargaro SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 2 points (-54)
22. ˅1 Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1 points (-55)
Super tight in the midfield from 4-10.

Realistically though, only the top 3 are really competitive to win the title this year. If MM strikes again in Jerez, then all 3 can be almost equal in the standing with less than 10 points separating them. But yeah from 4-10 they're all very close in the points and some can upset the top 3 to steal a win or two.

tech3 team hinted that HS will test the bike again on final testing at Qatar.

ya he is 2-3sec off pace than zarco..hope he can improve fast. atleast need to equal with team mate

It's official now

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/02/20/s...-in-2018/250389

It'd be nice to see him consistently scoring points once he manages to learn to ride the bike well.

MM crashed

He says he's going to a factory team. Aprilia /Honda/ Ducati still options.

I should wish more in the future. Second in the championship is really close. Seems like Rossi has a new girlfriend?  I see a girl there.