*Pre warning, I am going to try and fit as many Oasis song titles into this, can you spot them!
As the MotoGP makes its way to Italian Misano track in its double header rounds, we are reflecting on #Britwatch within the series, namely Jake Dixon.
Jake, who started his career in the British Superbike Championship onboard the Briggs BMW for the later part of the 2016 season before moving to the ZX10 under the banner of Lee Hardy Racing for 2017, building up to finishing 2nd in the Championship for 2018. With his quick succession of achievements, Jake earned himself a spot on the Global stage in 2019 and made a significant step in his career by joining the Angel Nieto Team within Moto2.
Jakes debut season proved to be a steep learning curve with his transition from the British Paddock and the Superbike to Moto2, despite this Dixon displayed flashes of his potential and his ability to quickly adapt to a complete change in machinery and riding style.
Jakes signing with Petronas Sprinta Racing team for the 2020 season marked a substantial turning point, with a move to a more competitive team and his now growing experience within the competitive grid, Dixon began to find his footing and by mid season he was battling in the top ten, however a crash at Le Mans whereby he suffered a wrist injury ended his season prematurely.
Coming into the 2021 season, still on board the Petronas bike, Jake didn’t Look Back in Anger, instead he returned to the grid immediately making an impact, consistently qualifying in strong positions and challenging mid pack. His standout performance of the 2021 season being at his home round at Silverstone where he battled at the front albeit a podium finish eluding him.
In 2022, Dixon remained with the newly rebranded GASGAS Aspar Team and keeping to The Masterplan he was once again consistently scoring points and securing top 5 positions throughout that season.
2023: The First Moto2 Win
The 2023 season was the Rock ‘N’ Roll year for Jake, after years of building experience and refining his race craft he finally achieved his maiden Moto2 victory at the Dutch TT Assen Grand Prix and ensuring that Jake would Live Forever among the top riders of the Moto2 Class. He soon quickly followed this up with a second victory at the Catalan Grand Prix, Little by Little cementing Jake as a genuine title contender.
The 2024 season kicked off with high expectations for Jake coming off the back of two wins in ’23 season and Some Might Say he has the potential to challenge for the ’24 Moto2 title. However with GASGAS Aspar team making a change to WP Suspension seemed to have caused Jake a step backwards on bike, which were reflected in the less than ideal performances in the earlier part of the ’24 opening rounds. However, Improvements to the new suspension set up were apparently being made as by the Catalan Grand Prix, Jake finished on the podium in second place at, albeit 9.186 seconds behind victor Ai Ogura, whom was on Ohlins. Improvements continued for all bikes that moved to WP Suspension by the German Grand Prix whereby KTM’s Vietti qualified on pole and Dixon joining him on the front row in second. Fermin Aldeguer, who qualified 3rd won the Grand Prix two seconds ahead of Dixon in second.
The British Grand Prix: Silverstone
An August British Grand Prix in unusually warm conditions, She’s Electric. From the moment practice sessions started, Dixon looked fast and comfortable, setting strong lap times and clear he wanted to deliver a memorable performance.
In Qualifying, Dixon delivered an impressive lap to secure a front row start, positioning himself perfectly for the Sunday Morning Call. On race day, he didn’t disappoint by immediately getting off to a strong start and slotting into the lead group and with a few laps remaining executed an overtake to cross the line in first, securing his first win of the 2024 season and entering the record books as one of the few riders to win at their home Grand Prix. Jake celebrated with the crowd with an ocular spectacle dancing “the worm” and the walking the infamous “McGregor” walk.
Aragon Grand Prix: Listen Up
The first of the double headers for the MotoGP paddock, a track known for its technical corners and fast straights Dixon was ready to Roll With It. Four races ago, Jake sat 105 points adrift of Championship leader Garcia. It was another showstopper with Dixon setting strong times throughout practice and on his final lap of qualifying slammed in a 1:51.636 time earning him pole position for Sundays race. There was no Gas Panic from Jake who took the holeshot and led the majority of the race, with Arbolino making only one attempt to push Jake back on lap four, but Jake retook the lead a couple of laps later and started to push to break the group. Dixon held Arbolino at bay and managed to pull an impressive lead of 1.7 seconds to the flag. These two victory’s together with a consistent points finishing positions now puts Jake 43 points off the top spot in fifth place. Jakes has shown he can win at two very different circuits, Silverstone with is fast and flowing nature and Aragon technical demands – all demonstrate that Jake Is a versatile rider.
As the season now ramps up with rounds in quick succession, all eyes are on Dixon, hoping that momentum doesn’t Slide Away and he continue to his aim to bring home the Moto2 title for Britain.
How many Oasis titles did you find?
Words: Kerrie McFadden @FirstTurnMedia info@FirstTurnMedia.co.uk
Photos: Joel Cooper @Hawk Media Services