Jake Dixon explains withdrawal from Portuguese Moto2 Grand Prix - 'Most difficult decision of my career'

Jake Dixon has explained to TNT Sports why he pulled out from the remaining sessions at the Portuguese Moto2 Grand Prix.

The British rider's team Aspar announced his withdrawal after he finished seventh in Saturday's practice session.

Dixon had already been ruled out of the season opener earlier this month after suffering a high-speed crash in the final practice session, which required him to remain in Qatar for several days for medical checks.

"Honestly, it's been the most difficult decision of my career to date to make the decision to stop," Dixon told TNT Sports.

"I was fast yesterday, but I've been feeling not 100%. Even from FP1 I didn’t feel fantastic.

"I said to the team, ‘look, let me see how I feel in FP2’. Then as FP2 went on, not only struggling with my back, but also struggling with my head. I'm still having symptoms from post concussion.

"So I think I spoke with my management, my team, my wife, my dad, everyone, and we all came to the conclusion that it's not safe to keep riding."

Dixon revealed he would be travelling to Lyon next week so he could undergo rehabilitation at a clinic, pledging to be "100% ready" for the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on April 14.

"It's not been an easy morning to make a decision," he said. "It’s really difficult. I feel upset. Yeah, quite emotional today. So, it's been difficult.

"The good thing is, I've got great people around me. I'm able to be fast, even when I'm 80%, well not even 80%, 70% of my full capability, and I'm still able to be seventh position yesterday."

Dixon added: "It is what it is, but at the same time, I feel gutted for the team because they obviously put a lot of effort into it.

"I can't thank my management and obviously the team as well for being so supportive to me."

Dixon’s accident at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar happened when he was driving at 154 km/h. He spent the night at the hospital afterwards.

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