Jake Dixon will make his MotoGP debut this weekend in front of a packed-out home crowd and with Valentino Rossi as his teammate, as he joins Petronas Yamaha for the BritishGP.

No stranger to the Silverstone layout, both on Superbike and Moto2 machinery, Dixon is a mix of nerves, excitement and pragmatism ahead of his premier class introduction.

“This weekend will be difficult, jumping on the big bike for the first time at my home GP, but I’m really looking forward to it,” the 25-year-old explained from the Northampton circuit.

“It’s always exciting to be racing at home, but this year it’s going to be extra special.

“The home support is always amazing, I love the track and I think it’s going to be a great experience. To have a big crowd there and the knowledge of the circuit is really going to help me this weekend, although I’m obviously not looking for any particular result. I’m just going to go out and enjoy it!

“Obviously it’s fantastic! Thanks to the Petronas team, to give me the opportunity to ride the MotoGP bike and to do it at home as well, is pretty special. If anyone could do their debut, I think they would be doing it at home.

“I can’t wait and it’s gonna be great because we’re gonna have a full house in front of the British crowd, and the Silverstone Circuit seems to suit the Yamaha, in the past. It’s going to definitely be a massive learning curve but I’m ready to take it on and see what we can do.

“I was just saying I’ve had a few sleepless nights,” Dixon joked before continuing.

“It’s definitely excitement, so much excitement to go through but also it’s nervous times. I’m not expecting anything from myself, it’s just a massive learning curve. I can’t be expected to do anything, I’m coming from never riding a MotoGP bike, everything is so different, but I’ll be trying to do the best job I can possibly do on the weekend, and take it on and see if I can enjoy it.”

Words of advice for Dixon’s first touch came from friend and ex-Petronas rider Fabio Quartararo and 2018 Moto2 Champion Pecco Bagnaia, with both riders echoing each other’s sentiments of ‘be calm and enjoy’ when making the step from the intermediate class.

“To be calm,” Quartararo said simply. “Because already when I start in Valencia, is a short track but the first day I was totally lost and was a day of test. So, just to take it easy. I already tell him that it is totally different. He will feel much more the power, the brakes, everything is different. So don’t be looking at the lap times so much because, of course you know the front guys will be so fast, and take it easy.”

“For sure to take it easy, to enjoy, because he will,” Bagnaia confirmed. “He will enjoy a lot for sure. I never ride the Triumph Moto2 but the step with the Honda Moto2 was big, big, big. So embrace the acceleration, the leaning, everything is different and here to enjoy and to keep calm.”

Dixon’s Petronas Sprinta Moto2 seat will be kept warm this weekend by Adam Norrodin, as the Malaysian makes his return to the team after a two year hiatus. The 23-year-old competed in the last six races of 2019’s Moto2 season having run with the outfit for there years prior in Moto3.