Dixon ‘in tears’ as Assen DNF delivers BSB title blow
Jake Dixon feels his chances for the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship title are “pretty much over” after suffering a cruel mechanical retirement in race two at Assen to leave him 61 points off leader Leon Haslam.
After narrowly missing out to the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider in race one at the Dutch track, Dixon was in a strong position running second behind Peter Hickman in race two until disaster struck on lap 10 when his RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki suffered a mechanical problem which forced him out of the race.
Jake Dixon feels his chances for the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship title are “pretty much over” after suffering a cruel mechanical retirement in race two at Assen to leave him 61 points off leader Leon Haslam.
After narrowly missing out to the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider in race one at the Dutch track, Dixon was in a strong position running second behind Peter Hickman in race two until disaster struck on lap 10 when his RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki suffered a mechanical problem which forced him out of the race.
With Haslam going on to clinch a double victory at Assen, Dixon faces the tough prospect of aiming to overhaul a 61-point deficit at the triple-header final round at Brands Hatch. Dixon says the race two DNF brought the whole team to tears and believes any realistic hopes for the BSB title are gone.
“It pretty much explained it when I came into the garage as me and the team were all in tears,” Dixon told Eurosport. “It means so much as we are a little team with not the biggest budget and we are racing against the Kawasaki factory team with Leon who have a load of money and the best equipment. It is gutting.
“People say it isn’t over but it is pretty much over unless something drastic happens.
“It is a shame as I feel I have been riding the best I have ever ridden and I feel like in the second race I definitely could have won it but it is all good saying I could have won it because I didn’t as I blew up and had to retire from the race.”
Reflecting on his Assen round as a whole, Dixon appeared to issue a rallying cry via social media as he plots a final round title attack at Brands Hatch.
“The passion and hard work that I put in makes the emotions so raw when your all doesn’t seem to be good enough,” he said on Instagram. “I’m always learning along the way, it makes us stronger.
“So although Assen BSB didn’t end the way we wanted I will be heading into Brands Hatch with the same grit and determination as always.”
