Dixon hoping to bounce back at Mandalika following 'first lap disaster' in Qatar

One of the 2022 Moto2 title favourites, Jake Dixon is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 11th place finish in Qatar at this weekend’s inaugural Mandalika race.

A disastrous start to the Qatar Moto2 race left the British rider - qualified in seventh place - slipping outside the top 20 and therefore resulting in a damage limitation type of race. 

Despite the poor start which he classed ‘a disaster’, Dixon was one of the quickest riders on-track throughout the race, something he wants to replicate in Mandalika as MotoGP returns to Indonesia for the first time since 1997.

Dixon said: "The pace in Qatar was good to fight for the podium, but the first lap was a disaster. 

"We are in a long season, there are 20 races left and this is not how it starts, but how it ends. 

"This weekend we have a second chance at a new track, and I want to think that I am one of the best riders when it comes to learning a new circuit."

While Dixon had an up-and-down Qatar race, team-mate Albert Arenas had a much more consistent performance. 

So while that’s a positive for the former Moto3 world champion, Arenas still lacked the pace to fight for a top ten finish which is why 'we cannot be happy, we have to improve' according to the Spaniard. 

Arenas added: "We face the second race of the season with enthusiasm. We cannot be happy with how the Qatar Grand Prix went in terms of results, although in terms of the work we put in we are OK. 

"We managed to score points and we have to continue doing so, We have to be consistent in such a long championship. 

"We have a good base to start from, but we have to improve it, and that will be the goal in Indonesia."