Jake Dixon was the surprise package on race day at Knockhill, converting his first ever front row start into a superb flag to flag victory in Superbike race 1 - his first win in only his twelfth ride in the top class. He then followed it up 3 hours later with a battling victory in race 2 to make it a stunning double win for the RAF Kawasaki team.
Dixon stepped up to the Superbike class last year, but missed most of the season due to injury. His results so far this season have been mixed, his best being a ninth place finish in the opening round at Donington and three DNFs. But he was flawless round the 1.25 mile Fife circuit to force his way into the top 10 in the championship standings.
Race 1 got underway in perfect conditions, with blue skies and a light breeze. Luke Mossey started on pole on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki, with Dixon in second spot and James Ellison in third. When the lights went out, it was Dixon who made it into Duffus Dip first, and he held that position for the entire race. Mossey was the only one who looked like challenging him, putting in the fastest lap of the race on lap 3. But Dixon fought him off and pulled out a comfortable lead of around a second. Shane Byrne recovered from a poor start, and when Josh Brookes crashed out in front of him, Byrne found himself in third spot and set about trying to chase down the leaders. But as the dark clouds began to gather, it looked like the weather would be the only thing that might rob Dixon of his victory. In the end however, the youngster kept his composure to take his first win, with a comfortable 4 second margin over Mossey and Byrne 2 seconds further back.
He didn't have to wait too long for his second win, but he did have to work a little harder for it in race 2. He started in similar fashion, grabbing the lead at the first corner, with Mossey again breathing down his neck. This time however, it was a much closer affair, and when Mossey nipped passed, followed quickly by Ellison and then Byrne, it looked like his change of the double was over. This time it was Mossey's turn to pull out a gap, and for a few laps it looked like he might disappear into the distance. But he missed a gear down the back straight, allowing Ellison to steal the lead and the rest of the pack to close in. Dixon wasn't finished yet though, and in the closing stages he saw off his two more experienced rivals to grab the lead with a lap to go and take his second win of the day. Ellsion finished less than half a second behind to get his championship challenge back on track, with Byrne a second behind in third.
But it was 21 year old Dixon who deserved all the headlines for the weekend, and with solid results for fellow young guns Mossey, Taylor MacKenzie and Bradley Ray, the BSB talent train has once again uncovered some stars of the present as well as the future.
In the other classes, there were wins Keith Farmer in the Supersport category and Jordan Gilbert in the Superstock 600. In the Superstock 1000, Danny Buchan edged out Chrissy Rousse in an epic battle to win his second race of the weekend.
The BSB Championship now moves on to the long fast straights of Snetterton circuit in two weeks time.