The 2017 MotoGP World Championship is just days away from starting. Nearly five months after the conclusion of the 2016 campaign, Marc Márquez will begin his defense of the title, with teammate Dani Pedrosa having been one of the fastest men in preseason. Ahead are 18 races in 9 months for a competition that starts this Sunday under the floodlights, at one of the most special rounds of the season: The Qatar Grand Prix.
We asked 22 riders and former riders who will be the top three in the 2017 MotoGP World Championship, and almost all predict a duel between Marc Márquez and Maverick Viñales. Sunday will go some way towards showing what to expect from the season ahead.
Angel Nieto
12+1 times World Champion
1. Marquez / Vinales
2. Marquez / Vinales
3. Rossi
Alex Criville
Former 500cc World Champion
1. Marquez / Vinales
2. Marquez / Vinales
3. Rossi
Freddie Spencer
Former 500cc World Champion
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Rossi
Randy Mamola
Former 500cc World Championship runner up
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Rossi
Wayne Gardner
Former 500cc World Champion
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Rossi
Christian Sarron
Former 250cc World Champion
1. Marquez / Vinales
2. Marquez / Vinales
3. ---
Neil Hodgson
Former MotoGP rider and Superbike World Champion
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Rossi
Kevin Schwantz
Former 500cc World Champion
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Rossi
Lucio Cecchinello
Former 125cc rider and LCR Honda MotoGP Team Principal
1. Marquez
2. Crutchlow
3. Rossi
Carlos Checa
Former MotoGP rider and Superbike World Champion
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Lorenzo
Ralf Waldmann
Former 250cc World Championship runner up
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Rossi
Randy De Puniet
Former MotoGP rider
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Rossi
Nicky Hayden
World Superbike rider and MotoGP World Champion
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Rossi
Takayuki Okada
Former MotoGP rider and 500cc runner up
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Pedrosa
Jonas Folger
MotoGP rider
1. Vinales
2. Rossi
3. Marquez
Johann Marco
MotoGP rider
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Dovizioso
Hector Barbera
MotoGP rider
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Pedrosa
Loris Baz
MotoGP rider
1. Vinales
2. Marquez
3. Rossi
Bradley Smith
MotoGP rider
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Rossi
Pol Espargaro
MotoGP rider
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Pedrosa
Alvaro Bautista
MotoGP rider
1. Marquez
2. Vinales
3. Dovizioso
Karel Abraham
MotoGP rider
1. Marquez / Vinales
2. Marquez / Vinales
3. Iannone
For more information: www.repsol.com