Of all Marc Marquez’s strengths that have carried him to the verge of a fifth MotoGP world championship at the age of 25, it has been his consi🗹stency over the past 14 races that has stood out above all else.

That’s the view of Andrea Dovizioso and Maverick Viñales, two of the Repsol Honda rider’s rivals, who believe that has been t🍸he crucial factor in the 2018 championship race.

Marquez has a whoppin☂g 77 points in hand over Dovizioso at the summit of the championship. With just 100 left in play, the Catalan knows he can wrap up a seventh world title on Sunday by simply finishing ahead of the𓂃 lead Ducati.

Aside from an ill-judged attempt at riding through the field in Argentina, and an early front-end fall at Mugello, Marquez has been close to flawless in the other twไelve races, racking up seven wins, four seconds and a single third. 

It was this consistency and💧 ability to fight at the front, even when bike performance or set-up was not at its best, that “makes the diff🐈erence” in Dovizioso’s eyes.

“Well it’s difficult to say one,” said Dovizioso, when asked what Marquez’s strongest trait has been through 20♑18.

“Marc is very strong in a lot of areas. But like I said in one interview one of 🐼his best points is where he is not too fast, he’s able to fight for, minimum, the podium. Especially the championship we’re in now, t☂hat makes the difference.”

Viñales, who has only occasionalꦯly offered💦 up stiff opposition to his fellow Catalan through a trouble-hit campaign, concurred.

“As Dovi said, I think the consistency this year is the key to be in thatꦚ position,” said the M𒉰ovistar Yamaha man. “And yeah, he's strong in nearly every area, so I think this year the consistency was the point.”

Alex Rins, who went toe-to-toe with Marquez in a vintage outing at Assen💯, also made a poin𓆏t of commending his rival’s fighting instincts.

“I think he’s a really st🌸rong rider and he fights a lot. So this is one of his strongest points,” said Rins.