Jake Dixon turned an unexpected MotoGP return into the first points of his premier-class career. The Briton finished 14th in the Qatar Grand Prix after replacing Joan Mir at factory HRC, five years after his previous appearance in MotoGP.

The race began from the back row of a depleted 16-rider grid, but Dixon immediately gained ground by overtaking Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Viñales. A mistake early in the race cost him roughly four seconds and broke his connection with the group. He nevertheless matched the pace of LCR riders Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco during parts of the contest.

Dixon moved up to 14th after Brad Binder and Moreira retired, with Moreira later stopping because of pain in his right elbow. Dixon finished 28.7 seconds behind winner Marco Bezzecchi and 7.6 seconds behind 13th-placed Viñales. Zarco was Honda’s leading finisher in ninth, 16.3 seconds behind Bezzecchi.

A significant factory opportunity

Dixon normally races for HRC in WorldSBK and said the result was better than he had expected before travelling to Qatar. He also explained that the early mistake frustrated him because his pace could have kept him with the riders ahead. Dixon added that he was faster in the Grand Prix than in the Sprint.

The appearance made Dixon the sixth different rider to wear factory HRC Castrol colours this season, following Joan Mir, Luca Marini, Takaaki Nakagami, Somkiat Chantra and Aleix Espargaro. Mir, who has been dealing with fatigue-related vision problems, and Marini will have the next race weekend away from competition to recover before the following round at Portimao.