PETRONAS Sprinta Racing riders secure double points finish in Qatar

Michelle Liew

March 9, 2020

Riders Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon clinch 9th and 14th place respectively in the season opener.

Jake Dixon – PETRONAS Sprinta Racing | Photo credits: Petronas Sepang Race Team

The 2020 Moto2 Season has kickstarted and PETRONAS Sprinta Racing riders Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon have secured double points for the team. Speeding under the floodlit Losail International Circuit, Qatar, both Vierge and Dixon made it past the chequered flag at 9th and 14th place respectively.

After a strong qualifying session, Vierge continued his momentum in the main race. Riding with his Triumph-powered Kalex machine at the sharp end of the grid for the majority of the race, Vierge started off at tenth and put up a solid performance till the end of the race. The Spaniard encountered an issue with the front tyre and changed his strategy to conserve the tyre throughout. He then ended his run at 9th place.

Teammate Dixon, on the other hand, encountered a collision in the first lap. He then bounced back to improve his standing in the next few laps. The Briton was able to avoid the wearing of the tyres by conserving it and then built up an attack in the closing stages. Dixon then crossed the line at 14th place.

The PETRONAS Sprinta Racing team will be taking a short break and come back on track next month. This is due to the postponement of the Thai Grand Prix and America will be hosting the second round of the season at April 3 to 5.

Xavi Vierge (PETRONAS Sprinta Racing)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Petronas Sepang Race Team

“We came here with the goal of finishing the race, but also to try to get a podium. For half of the race we were in the position that we wanted to be in the lead group and were trying to save the tyres for the last laps. For the last laps I felt like there was something wrong with the right side of the front tyre and I couldn’t do anything about that. From there my goal changed to just finish the race in the best position possible. It was P9 and after the race we see that I have a burn on the tyre, so now we need to analyse what happened. But from the first day here with the team I felt good and we completed the work that we needed to arrive here ready. So thank you to the team for that.”

Jake Dixon (PETRONAS Sprinta Racing)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Petronas Sepang Race Team

“It was difficult in the beginning; I nearly got taken out by another rider on the first lap and it ran me off the track, I lost a good two seconds from that. As the race went on I became stronger and stronger. From eight laps in the bike started to feel better, the fuel tank started to get lighter and I just got faster, got into my rhythm. The last five laps I was doing 1min 59secs lap times, comfortably within that in fact. I just need to figure out how to improve the first part of the race with a full fuel tank.”

“On the last lap I didn’t realise Marini went down until we came in afterwards. I saw on the TV that me and him collided. First of all I want to apologise to him and his team because I didn’t intentionally try to hit him. As I committed to go I had to turn in and I had nowhere to go, so apologies to them and I hope that he’ll be all right.  Overall I just want to thank Razlan Razali, Johan Stigefelt and all of the team for giving me the opportunity this year to be able to develop and get better as the season goes on. They have great belief in me and I have great belief in the whole team they’ve put around me. I think as a team we’ll only grow stronger and this is only the start of good things.”