MotoGP Qatar: ‘Pace better than grid position’ - Dixon

Inde Aspar’s Jake Dixon heads the third row as 2022 Moto2 kicks off at Qatar’s Lusail International Circuit on Sunday.

A strong free practice performance saw Dixon qualify directly for the Q2 pole shootout at Doha on Saturday, having set the 11th fastest time of the intermediate class. Two crashes adding to the drama for the 26-year-old as he returned to the team he started his career on the world stage with in 2019. Despite his second crash coming in the final minutes of FP3, the Brit continued to progress through the qualifying session, advancing his time with a 1’59.357 to place him seventh overall. A better effort - of 1’59.278 - being denied due to yellow flags brought out by Pedro Acosta’s turn 16 fall, which would have left him fourth behind fellow Brit Sam Lowes. “Honestly, after two big crashes, getting back on track straight for qualifying and getting the best time of the weekend is a good sign,” Dixon confirmed from Doha on Saturday evening.

“I’m very happy, although they cancelled my best lap time due to yellow flags. That time would have put me on the second row.

“The good thing is that our pace is better than what our grid position says.”