A recovery ride for Jake Dixon saw the Inde GasGas Aspar rider secure a sixth place finish in the Moto2 Portuguese GP on Sunday.

Having got caught out by waved yellows during Saturday afternoons’ qualifying action, Dixon lined up in 12th for Sunday’s 21 lap race at the Algarve International Circuit. A slow start forced the British rider to fight from 14th as the race unfolded with the 27-year-old picking up speed as the laps counted down.

Entering the top ten by mid-race distance, Dixon was on the hunt in the closing stages, heading the second group on his way to ten points at the flag as he crossed the line in sixth position.

“It was a good but difficult race,” Dixon admitted from Portimao. “Step by step I managed to make up some ground, because I wasn’t comfortable at the start when I was 14th.

“I could make it up to sixth position after a lot of overtaking. I didn’t expect it, but all the hard work during the pre-season paid off. I was able to think calmly and I have to thank Sarah, my wife, because she helped me a lot with it.

“This sixth position is the best we could do, we maximised everything we had and we leave Portimao happy.”