Jake Dixon was magnanimous in defeat after being forced to relinquish third in the overall standings at the very final time of asking, but says it doesn’t detract from an otherwise stellar Moto2 season for the Briton.
The GasGas Aspar rider began the Valencia finale with a slender seven point margin over Fermin Aldeguer in the overall standings, the Spaniard having come in hot during the closing stages of the year with three consecutive wins ahead of the last round.
It was form the Speed Up Racing rider maintained on home soil, his fourth straight win proving more than enough to leapfrog the British rider - who could only manage sixth - for third in the final standings.
Praising the efforts of the teenager, who has shot to prominence during the second-half of the year, though Dixon was disappointed with his result in Valencia, he was delighted with his breakthrough season, which included his first Moto2 wins in Assen and Catalunya.
“I thought I could fight for the win today. It was such a shame that I didn’t have any of the feeling and grip with the tires that I had in practice and qualifying.
“Aldeguer has had an incredible end to the season and deserves that third place after everything. I gave all I had in the race and it wasn’t enough.
“I want to thank the team for everything because we still finished 4th in the championship even without five DNFs. It’s been our best season and also indicates we can be even better in 2024.”
