BSB: Distraught Dixon: 'Title fight is over'

 Jake Dixon and the RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki team were left heartbroken after an engine failure ruled him out of not only this weekend’s second race, but also the title fight.

While Dixon may have slim mathematical possibility of beating Haslam over the three races at Brands Hatch, a 61-point deficit means that’s now highly unlikely.

It’s a cruel blow that comes at a time where Dixon is riding the best he’s ever ridden, just 24 hours prior to breaking down and leaving his pit box in tears he’d set the quickest ever BSB lap of Assen on his way to pole position and with rival Haslam showing signs of nerves, it looked likely this year’s title fight would go all the way…

“I’m gutted,” said Dixon, holding back tears. “I genuinely think I’m riding the best that anyone out there is riding at the moment. It shows in qualifying when it comes down to outright speed, at the last two rounds I have set the fastest ever laps of the circuit…

“I genuinely think I could have won both races today, especially the second. I was just about to take Hickman for the lead when the engine went. I really thought we could win this championship but it’s over now.

“It’s gutting for me It’s gutting for the team but Leon is on a factory bike, with factory parts and a lot more budget than us. Despite those advantages, we’re still taking it to him and he’s also got 22 years of racing experience – that’s longer than I’ve been alive! He should be smoking me, but he’s not.”