BSB: Dixon: 'Leon has done a fantastic job this year'

Jake Dixon has congratulated rival Leon Haslam after having no answer to stop the 35-year-old from clinching the 2018 Bennetts British Championship crown in this weekend’s first race at Brands Hatch.

Dixon has been Haslam’s closest challenger throughout the season, but despite standing on the podium 13 times, the young gun only won three races to Haslam’s 14 meaning a stab at the title was a longshot at best.

However, a commanding double victory at Oulton Park and record-breaking poles in two of the Showdown rounds and another pole at Brands this weekend, Dixon did all he could to fight until the end.

However, his second place in today’s opening race wouldn’t be enough to take the fight to the final two races of the year with Haslam crossing the line sixth to take the crown.

“I’ve lost the British Superbike Championship to a great, experienced rider in Leon,” Dixon told MCN. “Through the whole season, he has been the better man. He’s done a fantastic job, he’s had 14 wins this year and nobody else has really come close to that.

“It’s unfortunate I didn’t quite have enough today to take it to tomorrow. Massive thanks to the team, they’ve done a fantastic job. I now just want to go out and enjoy the two races I have left before I go to Moto2.”