By International roads royalty of the highest calibre will be in attendance on Boxing day, 26th of December at New Zealand’s premier roads meeting, the Cemetery Circuit Races, following recent confirmation that Pokerstars Senior TT winner Peter Hickman will compete for the first time at the ‘Southern Hempishere’s Isle of Man’.
Regarded by many as the world’s current leading International road racer, the always laid back, quietly ultra determined Hickman has shone and some this year at the premier closed roads events.
Alongside his incredible performance in June’s Pokerstars Senior TT, which saw him also set a new outright Mountain Course lap record of 135.452 mph, TT 2018 also yielded a thrilling Royal London 360 Quantum Superstock success, emerging on top out of a captivating three rider battle for honours with Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison.
Outside of TT 2018, additional tumultuous moments included opening Superstock race glory at the North West 200, plus a commanding opening Supersport encounter victory in August’s MCE Insurance Ulster Grand Prix.
Following in the footsteps of fellow International roads front runners Michael Dunlop, Conor Cummins, Guy Martin and Lee Johnston in tackling the 1.5 kilometres long Cemetery Circuit, it’s a huge coup for event organisers to have secured a racer of Hickman’s calibre.
Synonymous in recent years with BMW Motorrad machinery, he will be S1000RR BMW mounted for the Wanganui based boxing day meet, which will see him compete against the likes of event legend Tony Rees, next gen New Zealand roads star Daniel Mettam and RST Superbike Classic TT runner up Horst Saiger.
Words by Stevie Rial
