RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon bagged his debut double MCE British Superbike win, during the second race at Knockhill, in what has been a day of first’s for the youngster.
Dixon has waited a long time for a BSB win and two came along at once this afternoon in Scotland, as earlier in the day he soared into the lead in race one to clinch his first ever victory in the class.
Before today Dixon has never made it on to the BSB podium, and this afternoon he had a one hundred percent winning streak in Fife. Race two was filled with drama with the fight for the win going all the way down to the wire.
In the end, McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison finished in second, with Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne completing the podium, with another third place finish. It was a slight case of déjà vu, as in a repeat of race one it was Dixon who snatched the hole-shot, only for Mossey to fight back at Clarks on the second lap, but the race one victor soon bounced back.
In race one Mossey opted for the harder front Pirelli tyre, but in the final event he went for the softer front tyre, like Dixon and Byrne. No rider went for the SC1 hard rear tyre compound, and O’Halloran, Mackenzie, Guintoli, Ray and Westmoreland were the only ones who went for the harder front option.
On lap five the leading duo of Dixon and Mossey pulled away slightly from Ellison and Byrne, but Dixon went wide which allowed Mossey, Ellison and Byrne to sail past with 20 laps remaining.
Meanwhile it was the battle of the Aussie’s on track, with Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran and Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes both fighting for sixth, but on lap 13 it was Brookes who made a move on the Fireblade to go up the order.
Then Brookes had Linfoot as his next target. But O’Halloran then had to content with charges from Laverty who was edging ever closer to the Honda man. Elsewhere on lap 19 Mossey made a mistake and went wide at the Esses and Ellison slipped through to lead the race for the first time.
Over the crest of the hill with ten laps left Byrne gained pace on Mossey, and the two nearly touched as the Panigale tried to make a pass, but the JG Speedfit backed bike held firm. But the fight for the top step of the podium turned into a five-way battle, with Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot joining in the mix.
Dixon had not given up the fight and at the chicane, before the start of lap fourteen he placed his RAF Reserves bike into third. But the 21-year-old was not giving up and passed Mossey to go up to second. Then a lap later Dixon made a repeat move on the Esses but this time on Ellison to retake the lead with two laps remaining.
A tad further down the field, Byrne made a move on the straight going into the final lap to take third from Mossey and he made it stick right to the end. At the chequered flag Brookes got the better of Linfoot to clinch fifth, followed by O’Halloran, Laverty, Hickman and McConnell, who rounded out the top ten.
Scotland’s finest Taylor Mackenzie, Bradley Ray, Smiths Racing’s Lee Jackson, Bennetts Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli and Team WD-40’s Tommy Bridewell were the last of the
points finishers.
