Dixon down but not out
For the second round running, it was a case of what could have been for Jake Dixon. The Englishman was left to rue a missed opportunity as a crash five laps into the race ended hopes of a debut podium, if not more. “It’s a kick in the teeth,” he said.
Dixon was the star of Moto2 on Friday and Saturday, topping FP2 before claiming a maiden GP pole position 24 hours later. Prior to the race, figures from Dunlop and Kalex confided the 24-year old had the speed to pull clear at the front.
Aside from the surprise speed of eventual winner Chantra, all was going to plan on the early laps. “I got a good start but got passed up the inside by Sam and Chantra. I thought I’d settle in and then pick Sam off.
I did that and literally two seconds later I was on my arse. Not ideal.”
The frustrating thing was Dixon felt he did nothing different at turn ten than the previous lap. Spots of rain began peppering the track just before, leading the Englishman to ponder whether that caused the fall.
“I had just passed Sam and thought I had good pace to catch Chantra.
After four laps I started to feel better on the bike. Front suspension, front brake, rear brake, everything was the same as the lap before, but I lost the front. I don’t know if it was the spots of rain that caught me out.
“The main thing is this year we’ve been fast, and not just one race, but from the moment we started testing with the team. We’re only getting faster. Hopefully I’ll be the finished article come Argentina and do what I should have done this weekend.”