Ahead of his Qatar MotoGP return, Jake Dixon sat down with Motorsport Week to discuss the twists and turns of his career, from his breakthrough in Moto2 with Aspar to his new challenge with Honda in WorldSBK.
For the first time this season, Jake Dixon made his return to the MotoGP paddock. Following a debut season in World Superbike, the Briton was called upon by Honda HRC to substitute for the recovering Joan Mir in Qatar, marking his first appearance in the Grand Prix paddock since departing Moto2 at the end of 2025.
With Mir sidelined and test team riders Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro also nursing injuries, Honda indeed turned to one of their two WorldSBK representatives. Under the guidance of fellow countryman Cal Crutchlow – who himself filled in for LCR’s Johann Zarco earlier this year – Dixon became the sole factory Honda rider to reach the chequered flag following Luca Marini’s early exit from the weekend.
Jake Dixon scored first MotoGP points in Qatar
Despite a disastrous FP1 outlap on Friday, Dixon recovered well on Sunday to score his first two MotoGP points as the final classified finisher. Though an early error into Turn 1 unclipped him from the pack, he delivered a solid ride to P14, crossing the finish line 12.5 seconds adrift of top Honda rider Johann Zarco.
This result marks his best finish in the premier class, eclipsing his two previous outings for Petronas Yamaha SRT during the 2021 season (19th at Silverstone and a DNF at Aragon). His point-scoring run was nevertheless aided by a depleted field following the absence of Yamaha and Pramac, alongside mid-race retirements for Diogo Moreira and Brad Binder.
Qatar marked a return to the Grand Prix paddock for Dixon, who spent seven seasons racing in Moto2. A few weeks prior, during the French WorldSBK round, Dixon reflected on his intermediate-class tenure and the team that shaped his career in an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week.
Dixon’s Aspar roots
Following a brief stint with IntactGP in Moto2 in 2017, Dixon received his breakthrough opportunity with the Aspar Team two years later, spending four full seasons with the squad across two separate stints (2019 and 2022 to 2024).
“I spent a long time with them. Looking back, perhaps I should have remained with them for the final year of my Moto2 career,” he explained to Motorsport Week referring to his move to Marc VDS Racing Team in his final Moto2 season in 2025. “However, that is in the past. I live and learn from my decisions.”
The team now fields future MotoGP rookies David Alonso and Daniel Holgado – who will step up to the premier class in 2027 with LCR Honda and Gresini Racing, respectively. Dixon attributes Aspar’s continuous talent pipeline to the team’s comprehensive structure and management.
“They operate exceptionally well and allocate resources precisely where they matter most. They’ve got their own circuit and teams across all the lower categories,” he said.
“Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’ obviously understands the sport inside out. Nico Terol, who now manages the operation, has that same deep understanding. Gino Borsoi, [Editor’s Note: Gino Borsoi is a former Grand Prix racer turned Team Manager for Pramac, following a long tenure as Sporting Director at the Aspar Team] who is now with Pramac, is another outstanding manager who truly understands rider dynamics.
“He gets the best out of the rider, works with the rider, never criticises the rider, unless it’s positive to do so. So it’s always confidence building to the rider.
“A lot of teams fail to achieve that, and that is precisely where Aspar excels. To me, they feel like a second family. I hold the team in immense regard. They gave me my breakthrough opportunity, put me on the map, and I will remain eternally grateful to them.”
Having established himself as a Moto2 frontrunner across seven seasons, Dixon navigated a paddock economy where financial stability is notoriously difficult for riders outside the premier class.
“The top riders, like myself, were earning a solid income,” Dixon clarified. “If you are in the top 10, you can expect decent pay, and if you rank in the top 5, you earn a good living.”
The WorldSBK transition
After scoring a total of seven wins and 22 podiums, the Briton sought new horizons after a MotoGP path failed to materialise. He therefore transitioned to WorldSBK at 30 years old, entering a familiar environment thanks to his background in the British Superbike Championship, where he finished runner-up in 2018.
In 2026, Dixon partnered former MotoGP rider Somkiat Chantra to race for Honda in the WorldSBK championship. There, despite his vast experience in Moto2, the Dover native faced a steep learning curve on WorldSBK machinery.
“There is still a great deal that I can learn,” Dixon admitted to Motorsport Week in Magny-Cours. “The bike, with its complex electronics, is vastly different from Moto2, where the setup is pretty basic and largely down to the rider’s input.”
“In WorldSBK, there is a major electronics race between the teams, and we are not in the best position at the moment. The reality is that simply increasing financial investment does not guarantee instant success. It requires time, experience, and many other things that come with it as well.”
Dixon concluded his first WorldSBK campaign 19th in the standings – two positions clear of his teammate Somkiat Chantra, while Honda languished at the bottom of the Manufacturers’ championship with just 64 points.
“It is no secret that Honda has been struggling at the moment,” he confirmed. “The goal was therefore to improve on our existing foundation and to prepare for next year to make sure we are in a good position for 2027. Other than that, there were no preset expectations.”
Overcoming injury setbacks
Compounding the team’s ongoing struggles, his rookie campaign was further hindered by severe injuries sustained in pre-season testing at Phillip Island in February 2026. In Australia, Dixon suffered a violent crash that resulted in multiple fractures to his left wrist and hand. After undergoing emergency surgery in Melbourne, the British rider was eventually sidelined and missed the first five rounds of the WorldSBK season.
“I’ve never been injured in the middle of a season, as injuries usually happened at the end of the year, when I had more time to recover. To start the 2026 season injured was obviously not ideal. It was frustrating, but that is simply part of racing,” he reflected.
He attempted a comeback at MotorLand Aragón in late May, but persistent weakness and fatigue in his recovering wrist forced him to withdraw prior to Sunday’s action. The #96 made a successful return to action a couple of rounds later for his home race at Donington Park in July.
“My wrist will never be the same as what it was,” he accepted in September. “It is as good as it’s going to get, but it feels pretty good now.
“Though it was nice to have this time off, I probably didn’t need it, as I had been away for a while already,” he laughed.
Undeterred by an injury-plagued rookie season, Jake Dixon holds bold ambitions for his WorldSBK future with Honda.
“Victory will taste even better in WorldSBK because everyone thinks that you can only win on a Ducati.
“I’m going to prove everyone wrong by winning on a Honda,” he insisted. It will taste good when it comes. It’s just a matter of time.
“Though it is not going to happen overnight, I do believe in the project. Many will sit here and criticise saying that ‘many before me have believed in it and it hasn’t worked out’. But I’m a strong believer and a strong character. I feel capable of driving significant progress within the team and helping push our development forward. I have already noticed a lot of positive changes with the arrival of our new team manager, Yuji Mori, this year.”
After a convincing substitute appearance for the factory Honda squad, proving the calibre of the WorldSBK grid, Jake Dixon may yet return to the MotoGP paddock before the end of 2026 as Joan Mir and Luca Marini remain doubts for the upcoming Portimao round on 20–22 November.
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