Jake Dixon was left weather-beaten in Japan after the elements and a wrong tyre choice denied him a chance of a third Moto2 win of the season.

Dover’s Aspar Team racer began Sunday’s grand prix from pole position after a rain-affected qualifying, with team-mate Izan Guevara in fifth, but his perfect start was in vain with the onset of a heavy downpour and the action was quickly red-flagged with conditions too dangerous in Motegi for dry tyres.

However when the race restarted the rain began to ease off and those on wet rubber - Dixon included - struggled for grip. The two Aspar riders ran first and second for a few corners before Guevara slipped down the order while Dixon kept the lead for two laps until Ai Ogura - on dry tyres - breezed past.

With the wrong rubber there was no way to stem the tide and Dixon went on to finish 13th with Guevara in 10th. The Kent rider is ninth in the standings with four races to go.

“It has been frustrating,” Dixon said. “The conditions were pretty tricky.

“After the red flag I have gone out on wet tyres, I tried to pull away, but I have completely destroyed my tyres and little by little I have gone backwards.”

In a post on Instagram he added: “It was calm and collected for the race but unfortunately [we] couldn’t predict the weather.

“[I] tried to go at beginning which left the last part of the race impossible. My team did an incredible job.”

The race was won by Spain’s Manu Gonzalez, while Ogura’s second place means he can seal the title at the next round in Australia on October 18-20.

There was some good news for Dixon’s team, however, with David Alonso sealing the Moto3 title.