Dover’s Moto2 Aspar rider Jake Dixon gets all-clear to race in MotoGP support series at Portimao after recovering from practice crash in Qatar

Dover's Jake Dixon is back in the Moto2 saddle this weekend after being declared fit to race in Portugal.

The Aspar rider's participation in the second round of the MotoGP support series at Portimao was dependent on passing a medical after a practice crash in Qatar two weeks ago.

"Very promising indeed for Jake Dixon"

The Brit comes back from injury and temporarily tops the timesheets #Moto2 | #PortugueseGP | Live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ pic.twitter.com/Atyq5SGo1N

The crash put him in hospital and prolonged his stay in the country.

Dixon was thrown from his Kalex bike at Turn 13 in Qatar, suffering a laceration on the lung that made an immediate flight home too dangerous. He had to wait more than a week before returning to the UK.

However he confirmed earlier this week his intention to be in the paddock at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, and after satisfying officials of his fitness to race, Dixon set the fifth-fastest time in free practice on Friday, a 1min45.850sec - nine tenths of a second slower than pacesetter Manuel Gonzalez.

He improved his time in practice 1 to 1.42.859 for seventh place, just under half a second behind quickest man Alonso Lopez.

“I have had better days, but compared to where I was just a week ago, I am getting better every day,” Dixon said on teamaspar.com.

“I am really happy because I didn't know if I was going to be able to be here, it was one of the worst crashes I have ever had.

“This weekend I'm going to take it easy, thinking session by session, without big expectations. I'm happy just to be back on the bike."

Practice 2 and qualifying take place today (Saturday) with the race on Sunday.