BSB: Quickest Dixon 'exhausted' through illness

Jake Dixon might have led the way as the eighth round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship got underway at Cadwell Park, but the RAF Regular and Reserves Rider was less than buoyant after the session.

Feeling unwell on Wednesday evening, Dixon visited the hospital on Thursday where it was revealed he had a viral infection.

Visibly exhausted, the 22-year-old was happy with his pace but is now looking to rest as much as possible to be in as strong a state as he can for Sunday’s two 18-lap races.

“I didn’t feel well on Wednesday night and then yesterday morning I still wasn’t feeling too clever, so we went to the hospital,” Dixon told MCN. “I flew back from Austria on Saturday, came straight back and went training at 7am the next morning, then again that night and twice again the next day so I think I’m a bit fatigued from over-training at the same time as being unwell! Sometimes I guess you just need a rest!

“I didn’t have a lot of energy at the end of that session so the boys told me to go and ride around, I did a 1’26.9 which I was happy with and then I made a massive mistake coming out of Mansfield when I was on quite a quick lap.

“My energy levels were very low, I had one more lap in me and that’s when I did the time but after that I decided not to push as with being tired, I really didn’t want to end up sending myself down the road and hurt myself at this point of the year.

“The bike is feeling good, I just need to get as much rest as I can tonight, do a bit of a run in the morning and then hopefully do minimal laps in qualifying if I’m fast enough.”