Jake Dixon’s run of podium finishes came to an end at the weekend.

Dover racer Dixon had to make do with fifth in the Moto2 San Marino Grand Prix at Misano - ending a run of four successive rostrum appearances - after a poor qualifying session left him off the pace.

Starting 14th, more than seven tenths off pole, the Aspar Team rider stayed out of trouble to make up nine places and bag 11 points - a better-than-could-be-expected return.

“I feel like it's a win, to come from where we came from,” said Dixon.

“I'm absolutely exhausted, it hasn't been an easy weekend at all. I'm super fit and even for me it has been really physical.

“I just have tried to stay calm at the beginning and I knew that I would be stronger at the end. If we had been in the first two rows of the grid, we could have afforded to fight for the podium again.”

Key to Dixon’s recovery was his good start. After lap one he was already up to 10th position and while his display was a fine example of balancing risk and reward team-mate Izan Guevara went from 26th to 17th before dropping down the order again finishing 21st.

“Today I have got the maximum possible points from the position I have started in,” Dixon added.

“I am super happy and I want to thank the whole team. They gave everything this weekend, we never give up, that is the mentality we have this year.

“We will be stronger here in the next race in two weeks, we cannot afford to repeat what happened this weekend.”

The championship returns to Misano for the Emilia Romagna round from September 20-22.