Valentino Rossi has never claimed to be a scholar but will have calculated that winning Sunday's Catalan Grand Prix would put him well on track for a fifth successive world title.
The 26-year-old provoked a row this week after being awarded an honorary degree by the University of Urbino with some complaining the academic system was being devalued.
The Yamaha rider did not help matters by sporting a mortarboard emblazoned with the name of one of his sponsors on the podium after winning his home grand prix at Mugello last Sunday, his fourth win in five races this season.
It does not take the mind of an Umberto Eco - the philosopher and recipient of 33 honorary academic awards - to figure out that a world champion with a 50-plus point lead over his closest rival after six races would be a good bet to retain the title.
It has helped that the two men expected to be Rossi's closest challengers this season, Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi, have had disappointing campaigns and stand 67 and 53 points behind the world champion in the standings.
Gibernau's team-mate Marco Melandri is second 49 points adrift.
Desperate Gibernau
Catalan Gibernau will be on home soil this weekend and desperately needs a first victory at Montmelo, a track where Rossi has won in three classes of grand prix racing and six times in all.
"I'd like Catalunya to be a turning point," said Gibernau.
"I can't explain why we can do such a good job all weekend and then not come out with the result in the race because we are capable of being competitive.
"I can't deny that the championship is slipping away from me already but I'm not going to throw the towel in."
Although Rossi believes the Honda rider's title challenge is over, he realises Gibernau will be motivated in front of his own fans.
"He is not my main rival in the championship at the moment because Melandri and Biaggi are closer but he will be very dangerous at his home circuit," he said.
"For sure Sete will be going for it... so I will have to maintain my full focus throughout the weekend."
With Gibernau's season in the doldrums, Spanish fans will be looking to the reigning 250cc champion Dani Pedrosa for local success in the junior class after his second win in a row last weekend.