MotoGP Mugello: Saturday struggles leave Dixon on row three

Inde GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon failed to transfer his fast Friday pace into pole for the Italian GP after challenging conditions hit qualifying this afternoon.

With rain and thunder storms hitting the Tuscan hills throughout Saturday afternoon, the Moto2 qualifying session was completed amidst dry by tricky conditions.

Dixon’s best 1’51.631 lap was set on his third of seven attempts around the 5.2km Mugello layout, with the Brit just three-tenths shy of the front row and half a second off Aron Canet’s pole time.

“Yesterday we were the fastest, but today we struggled a bit,” Dixon admitted on Saturday evening. “I have set my time alone, without references, but I have lost a few tenths with respect to my ideal time, which was a low 1’51.

“Anyway, we have potential, we are not badly placed for tomorrow’s race and we have a good pace.”