MotoGP Portimao: ‘Crazy day’ for Dixon, ‘always better in a race’

Autosolar GasGas Aspar’s Jake Dixon secured his second front row start of the season at the Portuguese GP after qualifying third on Saturday.

A tricky second day of action at Portimao saw both torrential rain and a drying track thrown at the Moto2 class with the late afternoon qualifying enjoying the best conditions on offer. Fifth in FP3, Dixon progressed directly into the final hunt for pole position but despite repeatedly circulating toward the head of the standings, the front row didn’t come without drama for the 26-year-old. “Honestly I can’t tell you how many times I almost crashed in one lap!” Dixon admitted from Portugal’s Parc Fermê. “But I knew I needed to do something on the last lap.

“I see I had 18 seconds across the line so I knew I was one of the last and I just put it all on the line for that last lap. Honestly really tricky conditions, easy to make a mistake - I had many moments, nearly having big high sides but yeah, what a crazy day!”

While a strong 1’44.501 showing in qualifying granted the Englishman the front row, three-tenths from pole, his confidence in race mode proves an ominous prospect for his rivals, especially fresh from his Texan podium success.

“The weather has been so unpredictable but I’m super happy to come out and be P3 for tomorrow,” Dixon confirmed. “I feel like we need to do a few things for tomorrow’s race but I’m always better in a race situation than I am in one lap so it’s good!”