Dixon: The pressure is on Haslam

Jake Dixon says the pressure is on Leon Haslam in the Bennetts British Superbike title fight following a dramatic qualifying ahead of the opening Showdown race with the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki rider producing a lap record pole position.

After seeing Halsam exit qualifying without setting a lap time due to a broken cylinder with his JG Speedfit Kawasaki, Dixon dominated qualifying to take his second pole position of the year with a lap record 1m 33.758s at Oulton Park.

Dixon accepts it’s the ideal way to start his BSB Showdown but feels it counts for little unless he converts it into race wins to begin to reel in Haslam’s 45-point championship advantage. Dixon also feels the qualifying situation will only increase pressure on Haslam starting from last place rather than on himself as he looks to grasp the opportunity starting from pole position.

“It is good to have pole but it is race wins which we need so we are chipping away but the pressure is on Leon to go on to provide the results,” Dixon said. “He has got the points lead and even if I won every race from now until the end of the season and he finished second I can’t win the championship.

“I have just got to keep hoping I get good luck, good results and winning. Then you never know come the end of the year, hopefully we’ll be celebrating something.”

Dixon also remarked he ‘felt so at one’ with his ZX-10RR during his record pole position lap and is eager to see it continue into the races having topped both Friday practice sessions at the Cheshire track.

“To be on pole is a fantastic feeling,” he said. “I can’t explain the feeling I had riding around as I felt so at one with the bike and the team have worked so well for me to go out and do that.

“I’m just sat on the bike pulling the throttle back so I’ve got the easy job and they’ve got the hard job setting it up and dealing with me.”