Progress Continues At Oulton Park As Dixon Builds Momentum

The 2026 test programme continued at Oulton Park, as Kam Dixon returned to action for a two-day outing at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.

Built into the natural contours of the Cheshire countryside, Oulton is a circuit that rewards commitment and punishes hesitation. Fast in places, technical in others, and always flowing, it’s long been regarded as one of the toughest tests for rider and machine alike.

This time, the challenge was taken up a level.

Selected as one of 13 Superstock riders to run alongside the Bennetts British Superbike field and invited guests, Kam found himself sharing the circuit with some of the biggest names in the paddock. Reigning champion Kyle Ryde, alongside the likes of Scott Redding and Josh Brookes, were all on track, as well as road racing specialists including Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson and Conor Cummins preparing for their own seasons ahead.

For Kam, it presented both a challenge and an opportunity. More track time, more data, and another chance to continue refining the bike ahead of the season opener.

Settling into the rhythm

Tuesday began in steady fashion, with cloudy but dry conditions offering a consistent platform to get underway.

The opening session saw Kam complete 11 laps, setting a best time of 1:39.576 on lap nine, placing him sixth in class. As with Donington, the early focus was on building into the day rather than forcing outright pace.

As conditions brightened into the afternoon, so did the lap times.

Session 2 brought a step forward, with a 1:39.046 recorded across 12 laps as the track temperature began to rise and grip levels improved. It was a natural progression, reflecting growing confidence and a better feel for the bike around a circuit that demands precision.

That progress became more apparent in the final session of the day.

With another 11 laps completed, Kam set a best time of 1:37.744, moving up to fourth in class for the session. Around Oulton, where rhythm and commitment are everything, it was a clear indication that things were starting to come together.

By the end of Tuesday, 38 laps had been completed, with that 1:37.744 standing as the benchmark. It placed Kam sixth overall in class for the day, but more importantly, showed a clear upward trajectory across each session.

Testing conditions and interruptions

Wednesday followed a similar pattern on paper, although conditions were slightly cooler from the outset.

The opening session continued the momentum from the previous day. Kam completed seven laps, setting a 1:37.865 on his final lap, placing him sixth in class once again. It was another consistent run, reinforcing the pace shown on Tuesday.

The second session proved more challenging.

Despite bright and dry conditions, the session was disrupted by a red flag following an incident at Old Hall, with a rider requiring medical attention. The delay ultimately brought the session to an early end, limiting valuable track time.

Kam completed eight laps in the session, with a best time of 1:38.271, placing him twelfth in class. With limited running and disrupted rhythm, it was difficult to extract more, but the focus remained on making the most of the available laps.

The final session allowed for a more complete run to close out the test.

Ten laps were completed, with a best time of 1:38.010, placing Kam ninth in class. While it didn’t quite match the pace from earlier in the test, it provided a solid end to the two days and another opportunity to continue working through setup changes.

Commenting on the test, Kam said:

“It’s been a good two days to finish off testing. We tried a lot across the sessions and I’m pretty happy with where we ended up.

Oulton’s always a tough place to ride, especially with the mix of riders out there, so it’s been a proper test and a good chance to keep building with the bike.

There’s still more to come, but we’re in a good spot now. It’s time to go racing!”

With two tests now completed, the focus begins to shift towards the opening round of the 2026 season. Track time at Oulton Park has provided another valuable step forward, both in terms of confidence and setup, with one final opportunity to refine things before racing gets underway.

The 2026 season begins in earnest at Oulton Park on 2nd - 4th May.