Jake Dixon’s MotoGP comeback began with a crash in Qatar, but ended with a markedly stronger showing. Replacing Joan Mir in the factory HRC team, the Briton fell just four minutes after the opening session began. He had already endured a heavy tank-slapper before losing the front a few corners later. The appearance marked Dixon’s first MotoGP laps since 2021; he now races for HRC in WorldSBK.

The fall left Dixon at the bottom of the opening-session classification, 3.148 seconds away from the fastest rider. His response in the evening was considerably better. He reduced his lap time by more than two seconds and ended the later session only two-tenths behind LCR Honda’s Diogo Moreira. That gap came after Dixon had needed to reacquaint himself with a MotoGP machine in a race weekend setting for the first time since 2021.

Honda support and Crutchlow’s advice

Dixon credited the Honda HRC engineers with helping him make the step forward. Their work helped him understand the motorcycle more clearly and identify the areas where he could gain the most time. The next task is to apply that understanding more effectively and focus on the details that can produce the biggest improvement over a lap.

Cal Crutchlow was another important presence in the pits. Dixon joked about Crutchlow being a demanding character, while stressing the value of his experience, guidance and criticism. Crutchlow made six race appearances for LCR earlier in the season and had ridden the Honda Dixon is now learning, giving him a useful reference point during the Qatar weekend.

Among the Honda riders, Johann Zarco set the best time in eighth place, while Luca Marini finished 13th. Dixon’s move from last in the opening session to within two-tenths of Moreira was therefore the clearest sign of how much ground he recovered during the day.