Jake Dixon hopes he has finally found the right direction with his RAF Regulars & Reserves Kawasaki after ending second free practice in fourth spot.

It’s been a tough start to the Bennetts British Superbike season for the likeable Ashby-de-la-Zouch man, but he now feels in a much better place after FP2.

And while he is still seeking improvement, he is feeling much happier after the first day at Oulton Park

“We’re still searching for a couple of tenths, I think we’re just a couple of tenths off Shakey and Haslam over a race distance, but I think that could just be turning up on race day and finding that button,” he told Bikesport News.

“There’s still uncertainty with some parts on the bike which I tried in that session. I did different bits with the bike and some back-to-back stuff for tomorrow to see if it makes it better.

“Hopefully we’ve got a direction now that I think will help me over one lap and a race run. Here, there’s a massive difference between the two.”

Dixon admits it’s been a difficult start to the year, but feels he and the team could be on the brink of turning the corner.

“When I went out at the end and it got red flagged, I felt like we could have done mid-34s, but that’s over one lap. To go forward we needed to sit down like we have today, evaluate it and keep chipping away,” he added.

“At the end of the day, the first two rounds haven’t gone to plan. I’m not being funny, we’ve been fast but things haven’t quite come together.

“It’s making me work for it at the minute. I roll out and I’m fast but I’m just missing a few tenths in certain sectors, like sector one is my real weak sector. I need to just evaluate that and hopefully the bike’s setup will help that as well.”