Moto2-bound Dixon proud of BSB title fight bow

Jake Dixon feels taking the Bennetts British Superbike title battle to Leon Haslam and his factory-supported JG Speedfit Kawasaki squad is a worthy achievement for RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki as he bids farewell to the series ahead of his move to Moto2.

The 22-year-old conceded his BSB championship fight to Haslam following Saturday’s opening race at the Brands Hatch triple-header but held on to second place in the riders’ standings thanks to a podium in the final race.

Despite seeing his BSB title charge coming up short, Dixon says his Lee Hardy Racing-run squad are proud of competing for the riders’ title against bigger and more experienced teams.

“The battles with Leon have been good but most of the time the fucker has come out on top of me!” Dixon said. “It is one of those things and he’s very experienced rider and rode fantastic all year.

“With such a great package around him it is a credit to my team to fight for the title, they are a little team but have put together such a great bike. I can’t thank them all enough.

“It has been a fantastic year and with Leon and Glenn riding so well all year I want to congratulate them both.

“Hopefully Glenn’s move to Kawasaki goes well and so does Leon’s to KRT. It’s been a great year and what a way to sign it off with another podium at the end so I’m really happy.”

Dixon will move to Moto2 next season having secured a two-year deal with the Aspar-run Angel Nieto Racing team ahead of the championship’s switch from 600cc Honda to 765cc Triumph engines along with a new ECU system.

BSB title-winner Haslam is also leaving the national series for a factory Kawasaki rider in World Superbikes, with Scott Redding switching from MotoGP to BSB with Be Wiser Ducati to provide a shake-up in the championship next year.