Unfortunately electrical gremlins ended Ryan Dixon’s hopes of winning the No Limits Racing title at the final round of the season.

Donington Park was to play host to the season finale, and Ryan was hoping that a good round would see him come away with the title. It wasn’t to be for him though, he brings us up-to-date with the final round of the season.

I headed to Donington for the final round of the 2024 championship just two points behind the championship leader and as prepared as I could be to take the challenge for the title all the way to the end but sadly it wasn’t meant to be!

Friday test day, the plan was to go out, get back in the swing of things having not ridden since Oulton Park several weeks ago and then work on getting the bike feeling good for the races.

However, session one went ok but it was downhill from there, the bike developed an electrical issue which we struggled to find. We changed numerous parts Friday, all to no avail with the bike not completing a full lap without intermittently cutting out.

Some more investigative work overnight and we changed another thing for qualifying, hoping for a solution but again the bike cut out half way around the out lap and so that was the start of the championship slipping away, even with a fix I would be starting at the back of the grid.

With little time between qualifying and race one we didn’t find another solution and so that was free points to the leader. The result of that race did confirm me as second in the championship whatever happened but still we searched for a solution.

Eventually we found that it was an issue with my crankshaft sensor. Sunday came round and it was an almost impossible task, starting the race 27 points behind meaning I had to beat my title rival, he was on pole and I was 31st and last on the grid.

Race 2 and I did the best I could, getting a good start and overtaking 18 people on lap one was a step in the right direction. By lap five I was through to fifth and although I was slowly catching fourth, the front three were already gone and I was seven seconds back.

I continued to push regardless in the hope some miracle might occur and although I managed to get to fourth by the end of the race, it was game over, the championship was decided.

Race 3 I set off from fourth on the grid and was hoping for a good result to end the year. A reasonable start saw me hold position before picking off each rider in front to get into the lead for a couple of laps before some drops of rain began to fall.

Usually I’d have pushed on with the amount there was but I backed off slightly, not wanting to end the season with a crash. I dropped to second and once the rain stopped, the leader had built a good gap.

Tom Norton made a pass on me a couple of times but I fought back instantly each time and starting the last lap I had over a second gap behind me so I assumed something had happened to him and just planned to bring it home second. He had crashed but Jack Bednarek was putting on a late race charge and caught and passed me on the penultimate corner. He ran as little wide at the final corner and I got halfway alongside him, I thought about forcing my way into the very small gap that was there but it would have ended in tears and so I had to settle for third to end the year.

Very disappointing way to end the year and lose the championship through no fault of my own but that’s the way it goes sometimes in this game. One positive to take is improving my personal best laptime at Donington Park by almost a second despite only riding on one day. The time would put me in amongst the top 20 of the British championship the weekend before so I still feel like I’m riding as well as I ever have, just wasn’t to be this time!

I have to say several thank yous for this weekend, to Paul Bowerbank, Brad Mercer and David Williams for basically being my spare parts suppliers, trying to sort the bike. My dad, Dermot and Jon Hunt for jumping in and helping me try to rectify the issue. Lesley Hunt for being a legend and taking care of Max as and when needed (even if she does fill him with sugar then send him back), Laura for being there, dealing with max and trying to keep my chin up. Steve Line for his unwavering support, ‘encouragement’ and relentless piss taking to make sure my spirits were kept high.

Jack Bednarek and his dad Dean for the very generous offer to ride Deans Honda despite being my main championship rival, much appreciated! Thank you also to all others who made suggestions and came up with offers to get me on track.

Finally, a big thank you to all sponsors who contributed through out the season to even make it possible to go racing in the first place, just sorry I couldn’t reward your support with a championship title.