Jake Dixon scores first MotoGP points on HRC debut in Qatar

Jake Dixon scored his first MotoGP points in the Qatar Grand Prix, five years after his last premier-class appearance. Drafted in to replace Joan Mir at the factory HRC team, he started from the back row and overtook Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Viñales at the start, but a mistake on lap four cost him four seconds. Retirements by Brad Binder and Diogo Moreira promoted him to 14th.

Dixon finished 28.7 seconds behind race winner Marco Bezzecchi and said he was pleased with the result. He admitted he was annoyed about going wide at Turn 1 early in the race, which cost him contact with the group he had been running with.

Dixon was the sixth different rider to appear in factory HRC Castrol colours this season. Luca Marini withdrew from the race due to fatigue, and Mir and Marini have a weekend off to recover before the penultimate round in Portimao.