Jake Dixon entered the Cremona rounds with only a single points finish during his injury-hit rookie WorldSBK season. However, the British rider delivered Honda’s strongest performance of the year, securing ninth place in both race one and the Superpole race, before capitalizing on some mishaps in front to finish sixth in the final race.
Reflecting on the weekend, Dixon told WorldSBK.com, “It was really positive. On Saturday, I said we needed a better starting position to improve our chances, and I was lucky to grab ninth in the Superpole Race.” He continued, “I pushed the bike to its limits, and given Honda’s challenges this year, this feels like a significant achievement.” Dixon acknowledged some fortune in the final race, adding, “Some riders crashed ahead, but realistically we would have been seventh or eighth, so we definitely outperformed expectations on Sunday.” Honda is actively working behind the scenes to find ways to progress further.
Looking ahead, Dixon revealed more upgrades are on the horizon for the Fireblade, with star test rider Jonathan Rea applying considerable pressure to the development team. “The test crew has been busy; I know they’re planning more testing soon, and I’m waiting to see those results,” he explained. “Jonny is doing an excellent job pushing the team hard, and both the UK and Japanese test teams are working superbly.” He added that Rea’s firm approach is crucial, stating, “He’s been tough on them, which is necessary because progress comes from being straightforward and demanding.”
Dixon, a former Moto2 championship contender, missed the first five rounds due to hand injuries sustained during pre-season testing at Phillip Island but has now overtaken teammate Somkiat Chantra as Honda’s top full-time rider. He currently sits 19th in the World Championship standings with 23 points—seven more than Chantra, who placed 13th in all three races in Cremona and will soon switch to MotoGP duties at Motegi this weekend.
Fan Take: Jake Dixon’s breakthrough weekend is a beacon of hope for Honda enthusiasts, showing that resilience and development can lead to meaningful progress even amid a tough season. For WorldSBK fans, this signals a potentially tighter championship battle ahead, as one of the sport’s premier manufacturers begins to close the gap on their rivals.
Source: www.crash.net
