Jake Dixon’s Moto2 Australian Grand Prix ended in disaster on Sunday, with a first-lap accident putting him out of the race.

Dover’s Aspar Team rider was clipped by Japan’s Ayumu Sasaki at Phillip Island and that contact meant Dixon collected Dennis Foggia at turn two. Sasaki later crashed out of the race, won by Spain’s Fermin Aldeguer.

Title favourite Ai Ogura could only finish fourth and must wait for his next chance to be crowned in Thailand this weekend.

“Qualifying practice was the first full dry session we had this weekend, and it didn’t go as we expected,” said Dixon, after securing 10th on the grid.

“The bike was shaking a lot, I don’t understand why.”

The Kent man’s team-mate Izan Guevara was even worse off, starting 18th, but had a better race, finishing 16th.

“Getting knocked off is definitely not ideal,” Dixon rued after Sunday’s race.

“It was only the second corner, everyone was relaxed. I have not even seen it, he has not passed me, he just hit me from behind.

“Fortunately, I am fine. We have not been lucky in the last four races, it is what it is.”

The result leaves Dixon 10th in the championship on 133 points with three races remaining before he switches to the Elf Marc VDS for 2025.

After Thailand, the series visits Malaysia and concludes in Valencia on November 17.