MotoGP Catalunya: Dixon targets ‘top five fight’

Inde GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon started the Catalan GP weekend third in the Moto2 free practice standings.

A strong start in the morning’s action saw Dixon set a 1’44.529 on his 15th of 18 laps around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where he completed a positive two-day test last month.

Carrying the confidence found at the test through the opening practice, the Brit then set about a 23-lap race simulation in FP2 - all firmly in a consistent 1’45 rhythm - as soaring temperatures left conditions unfavourable for another time attack.

“From the first moment on the track I found a good feeling and we were able to set a good pace,” Dixon said happily from Barcelona.

“We knew that the morning lap time was going to be the one that counted today, so in the afternoon we focused on doing a race simulation. It has been important to see where we are.

“This weekend we will try to fight for a top five, it would be a very good result.”