Jake’s set to fly high
Back in the Aspar team heading up the GasGas factory effort, 26-yearold Jake Dixon is flying high. Now able to manage his crippling wrist injury sustained in 2020 he’s been seriously impressive in testing – not only over a single lap but with attention-grabbing race pace.
MCN caught up with Dixon ahead of the opening round of the champiomnship in
Qatar this weekend.
This is your fourth year… where do you feel that you need to improve in order to make a step?
I think there’s many things. If we look back to 2020, I’d just started to get going and then that was put to bed with my wrist. Then, I probably lost half of 2021, so it will just be nice to be fully fit come the start of this season. Even at the start of 2020 I was injured. For the last two years I’ve been plagued with small, niggly injuries. Being fully fit and being in the right frame of mind, plus having the confidence from what the team gives me, will be the biggest things to help set me a apart from the others.
What’s a successful 2022 for Jake Dixon?
I think if I can finish in the top five in the championship, that’s a good, realistic goal. 100% wins are possible this year. Obviously, many things have to be right, I need to be riding in the right way, but as I’ve said, I have the team around me to provide me with what I need to win. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can win, and win straight from the off, but you need to have to have a good plan, and a good structure in place. All of these riders are fast, it’s all about working together to reach that end goal.
The class is getting faster and the youngsters are coming…
I think it’s pretty similar to five years ago. The Spanish and Italians are always fast, they’re young and getting younger. Acosta will be fast, some of the other rookies will be fast, but I’m not too focused on what they’re doing. I need to put all of my energy into me and extract the best from myself.
How important is 2022 for your career? Is it pivotal?
Every year is pivotal, but if you keep thinking like that, it’s never a good thing because you start to put pressure on yourself. I’m just going to go and enjoy my riding, and if I do that, I know I’m going to be fast.
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JAKE DIXON
GASGAS ASPAR TEAM