Dover’s Jake Dixon finally has something to smile about this season after he claimed his first Moto2 podium of the campaign at Catalunya.

The Aspar Team rider, who has endured a challenging start to 2024 following injury at the opening round in Qatar and several crashes, climbed from 11th on the grid to third for his second successive podium at Barcelona following victory in 2023.

Keeping out of trouble and benefitting from leader Fermin Aldeguer’s crash, the Kent racer bagged his first points of 2024 in the process, finishing nine seconds behind winner Ai Ogura from Japan, and said he knew his misfortune had to end at some stage.

“I have suffered a lot, but we knew that the tide had to change,” Dixon said.

“The bad times had to pass. The season did not start well, I had a huge crash and everything seemed to be against us.

“In today's race, tyre management has been key. I knew that everything was going to be decided in the last eight laps and that my pace and my way of working with the tyre were good.

“I have had to be smart, it has been difficult and I did not want to risk too much. It has been a great race and I have enjoyed it a lot.”

The podium also puts Dixon ahead of team-mate Izan Guevara in the championship after the Spaniard’s race ended following a first-corner collision.

Dixon, now 15th in the standings, is next in action this weekend as the championship moves to Mugello in Italy.