It was another frustrating weekend for Jake Dixon and the Appleyard Doodson Macadam Yamaha team at Cadwell Park this weekend. He was unable to start the opening race after qualifying in fifth position after an engine problem on the out lap forced him out. In the main feature race on Bank Holiday Monday, Jake was looking set for his first podium in the wet conditions but unfortunately crashed out.
The 18-year-old from Dover had been experiencing a technical gremlin on the Yamaha since Thruxton and the team have been working all hours to find the problem. After a successful test last week at Cadwell, the mysterious problem reared its head again in free practice two, allowing Jake to only complete three laps. The team worked hard over night to fix the issue and he was able to qualify in fifth, he was eager for a good result but as he went out on the out lap he was forced into pit lane when the bike suffered and engine problem.
Unable to complete one lap for a time for race two he was dropped the maximum six grid positions to 11th for race two on Monday. The heavens opened for the race and the youngster was keen to secure a strong result for the Appleyard team. He got a fantastic start and was fifth after lap one. He was soon putting in some fast lap times and despite a mistake on lap four where he ran wide he re-grouped and worked his way through to third place. He was creeping up on second placed man Billy McConnell when he hit a patch of water at the Gooseneck which fired him straight over the bars.
Jake Dixon - "I'm so gutted about this weekend it's just so disappointing and frustrating, the team worked really hard to fix the problem on Saturday night for qualifying and everything felt good and I was able to qualify fifth and was looking forward to the race. I went out on the out lap and something just didn't feel right so I pulled into the pits.
Once again the team worked hard over night and sorted the engine out, ran it on the dyno and it felt really good in morning warm up. The rain came in, which always evens the field out slightly and I was keen to get going. I made a mistake early on which forced me wide but I managed to get my head down and catch the pack in front of me again. I made some passes and everything was going well but I got caught out by a flow of water going across the track and it just spat me high into the air. I was running well and gutted to have crashed out but hopefully we can have a trouble free weekend at Donington and get back on form again there. Thank you to the team for trying to sort the problems and also to all my personal sponsors, I hope soon I can repay them with a podium."
2014 Personal Sponsors
Shoei - Daytona - Forcefield Body Armour - Ovendens - Mutleys - Feridax - Transtore Logistics - Herbalife - www.freestylextreme.com - anyone wishing to sponsor Jake this season with product or funding please get in touch - carly.rathmell@btinternet.com
Team Sponsors
Appleyard - Macadam - Doodson - Yamaha
