Tsingtao MV Agusta British Supersport boss Dave Tyson has hit back at former rider Jake Dixon after the Kent rider split from the his earlier today, saying he has invested a lot of time and money into this season.

Tyson says he had put the best crew and bikes available on the grid for Dixon this year, and despite a difficult start he expected the strong results from Brands Hatch to continue for the remainder of 2016.

“At no point did we want Jake to leave and we have built the team around him for the 2016 season. He has been given the very best in machinery from MV and ourselves as well as a very comprehensive crew,” said Tyson.

“We have had a mixed fortunes at the start to the season with Jake having two DNFs, and a non-start due to injury has meant we were on the back foot. Two strong finishes at Brands showed the potential even though we did have a problem with power on a new-factory supplied engine.

“New parts have been made available to us from Donington and going forward we have a better relationship with Reparto Corse. This is a very unexpected and disappointing end to the contract with Jake and it leaves the team in a position that they are looking for someone to fill his shoes ready for Knockhill.

“We fully expected when we signed Jake to repeat the 2014 championship-winning season we had with Danny Buchan. However, in his comments to me, he had no desire to continue to work with the team or ride the bike any longer.

“We will start to talk to riders who we feel can bring the best out of the bike and also work within the team and its ethics.”