The Petronas Sprinta Moto2 squad announced this morning that Jake Dixon will join Xavi Vierge for the team’s first year as a two-bike entity in the intermediate class.
It was revealed the SRT outfit would expand to two Kalex machines when the Moto2 entry list was released ahead of the Thailand Grand Prix, with Vierge already announced at this point.
Marc VDS’ Alex Marquez was rumoured as a strong candidate to jump ship from the Belgian team for some time as a stepping stone to SRT’s premier class squad, although it’s thought Yamaha blocked the deal-forcing the Spaniard to remain at Marc VDS for next year.
Rumours of Dixon joining the team from Angel Nieto began to increase in frequency following this news, culminating in the deal finally being announced for 2020.
“Jake Dixon is a highly rated fine addition to the PETRONAS Sprinta Racing team and we’re expecting good things from him and Xavi Vierge in Moto2 next season,” explained Petronas SRT team principle Razlan Razali.
“The British Superbike Championship is extremely competitive, so for him to win races in his first full season and finish second the following year there shows his potential.
“We've been taken by Jake's talent and application in his first year of Moto2. Jake represents the final piece in the puzzle for our 2020 rider line-up across MotoGP, Moto3 and Moto2 and we’re all excited to have two bikes in Moto2 for the first time in 2020.”
“I’m super excited to be joining PETRONAS Sprinta Racing and I can’t wait to jump on the bike,” added Dixon.
“It’s clearly a great team – you only have to look at the success they’re having this year in MotoGP and Moto3 to see that.
“It’s a massive opportunity for me, and I’m definitely going to be giving it my all to do my very best. 2019 hasn’t been the easiest of years for me, but I’ve learned a lot and it gives me a good base for 2020.
“I’ll know what’s possible after testing, but now that I’ve got an amazing team behind me I want to be fighting for podiums by the end of the season.”
Dixon has struggled in his maiden season of Grand Prix racing having made the switch from the British Superbike Championship, in which he managed the runners-up spot in the riders championship last year with the RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki team.
He has scored points just once this year with Angel Nieto, a 12th place result in the Dutch TT at Assen, as he and the team have struggled to get to grips with their KTM machine.
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