On Saturday, Dixon and Chantra used the third and final practice to fine tuning their bikes’ setup. As they continued to prepare for the day’s first race, Jake was able to improve significantly on his previous best to set a time of 1’35.868, while Somkiat put in a 1’36.501.

As the Superpole qualifying got underway, a determined Dixon made a strong start, positioning inside the top ten thanks to a time of 1’35.605. Pitting midway through the phase to put in fresh tyres, Jake was able to shave another two valuable tenths off his previous best. With a fastest time of 1’35.460, the British rider consolidated tenth place on the timesheets. As well as seeking a fast time, teammate Chantra also used the session to make final refinements to the setup. Lowering his times throughout this 15-minute session, the Thai rookie set a best of 1’35.796 in the latter stages. With this reference, just three tenths off Dixon’s best, Chantra qualified in sixteenth position for the weekend’s first races.

The first of the 21-lap WorldSBK races ran as scheduled at 15.30 local time. Gaining a position each following a penalty for another rider, Dixon and Chantra lined up in ninth and fifteenth place on the grid. It was not Somkiat’s day as, soon after the race start, the Thai rider was forced to pit due to an electrical problem, putting an end to his race before it had barely begun. Dixon meanwhile worked hard to establish a pace that would allow him to stick with the chasing group. Ninth through the initial stages, he was lying tenth on lap nine when a red flag brought the race to an unexpected halt due to debris on track following an incident for another rider.

With two-thirds of the original race distance not completed, Race 1 was set to restart under the quick start procedure, with a shortened 12-lap race. The grid for the restart was based on the positions at the last completed timing point, meaning Dixon would line up in tenth place for the second part of the race.

The restart initially cost the Brit some of the momentum he had built in the first part of the race, with Jake dropping from tenth to fourteenth and last of the riders still in contention. His focus and determination remained unchanged, however, and he gradually found his rhythm and began to regain ground. He first passed Petrucci for thirteenth and then moved into twelfth following a crash for another rider. Continuing to push, Dixon progressively closed the gap to Locatelli ahead, catching the Italian in the final stages. Jake made his move on the final lap to take eleventh place, a well-deserved result at the end of a strong and hard-fought Race 1.

The factory squad gets another chance to perform on Sunday, when Chantra and Dixon will compete in the ten-lap Superpole Race as well as the second and final WorldSBK race.