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What is it that makes a sportsman great? Is it solely statistics and numbers, or is there something greater behind the data?

This weekend Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will once again try and win the FIM Supersport World Championship. The Turkish star has never faced a tougher task than wrestling the title away from Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), as the 2017 season has been one where King Kenan has had to consistently fight injuries. Having missed the opening two rounds of the year due to a wrist injury, the 33 year old then found himself absent from Jerez after a triple hip fracture sustained in France.

The fact he is even attempting to race this weekend, and overcome a 20 point deficit is the definition of what separates the great from the good. With similar levels of passion and drive as Valentino Rossi, who has the same hunger now as he had 20 years ago, Sofuoglu shares the same qualities. The five times world champion has been there, done it and worn the title winning t-shirt.

To grit his teeth and show this determination, once again shows that greatness in any walk of life is about having the desire and motivation to keep climbing the mountain. Having won more titles, races and pole positions than any other WorldSSP rider, Sofuoglu hasn't tired of the need to prove himself.

The reigning champion faces a mammoth task this weekend, but by even making it to Qatar, he has shown that you can never write him off.