Jake Dixon scored a stunning sixth place in Moto2’s concluding visit to Misano, recording a career-best finish to the dramatic 10-lap shootout after rain stopped play in the scheduled 25-lapper.

Initially fighting his way up as high as third, after a lightning start in the day’s first start, Dixon was forced to mount his second charge from ninth on the grid after the red flags came out.

With the restart underway he immediately got down to business, battling with Sam Lowes - who also started from the third row - as he challenged his compatriot for seventh in the opening stages before mistakes dropped him back to 12th.

Recovering well, the 24-year-old powered through the field, entering the top-10 by lap six and continuing his climb to take sixth at the chequered flag for his best finish in the class to-date.

“It was super good but obviously I made a few mistakes in that race which wasn’t idea but slowly, slowly it’s coming together,” said Dixon.

“It was incredible to be at the front during the first race, being in third position at one point! I am just learning so much and week by week getting stronger. In the second one I made such a good start, got settled in to my rhythm and had a few battles with Sam.

“I’m really, really happy for myself and the team because it’s so good to get a sixth, I didn’t even realise I’d finished sixth until I’d crossed the line and looked at the screen.

I made some good moves towards the end of the race and it’s nice to feel that fire back in my belly and be back at the front. I’m super happy with that and I can’t thank the team enough.

“It’s amazing to think of the progress made in such a short amount of time, since that Jerez test. Hopefully we have many more good races to come.

“Honestly speaking, last weekend I was actually quite strong but when we come to the tracks it’s obviously the first time we’ve come with the Kalex and the key is understanding what I need from the bike.

“Obviously you don’t get much [track] time in Moto2, you just have the three long sessions which makes it quite difficult and I always find out in the race that I have problems - like last weekend my gearing was far too long, and yes, it was good for one lap and for practice because I was in the top-10 but I find that it’s difficult [in the race].

“So this weekend we made changes to the bike, shorter gearing, and like you see, I was able to be a lot faster. We kept making improvements, warm up we made some more and it’s slowly getting there, but definitely the double-weekends help me and they will do until the end of the year.

“Barcelona I’ve just got to take in my stride, I don’t expect to be as fast straight away there but I think, now we have quite a good base with the bike hopefully we can hit the ground running.”