By 35 times a race winner at pure road racing’s ‘Majors’, the TT Races, Ulster Grand Prix, Macau Grand Prix and Briggs Equipment Northwest 200, Peter Hickman has already, and some put his mark on the real roads’ scene over the last ten years.
Mountain Course, Dundrod lap-record holder, he’s achieved countless prized feats since joining roads riders ranks at the Northwest 200 in 2014.
There is still though a glaring non-inclusion from his road’s competition CV, NW200 Superbike success.
Discussing this subject, the four times NW200 winner stated in frank fashion:
“It is something that I must tick off the list. I haven’t done it so far but most of the time it has been because of stuff outside of my control.
There were tyre issues in 2022 when I had already broken the lap record and in ’23 I was on a Stocker after FHO Racing withdrew because of the wheel issue.
In 2024 I had to ride the stocker again after I got a hole in the radiator of the Superbike. Something has always gone against me.”
Fourth from last month’s Daytona 200, finishing leading UK rider, Hickman went onto discuss the constructive critique he and Davey Todd have had, post their announcement of running their own team this year, 8TEN Racing.
“It is an old-fashioned thought process that a team has-to be structured around an owner, a manager and riders.
In that scenario the riders have no control over their own destiny, no job security. This a more modern way and it happens a lot in sports like Supercross where the teams are owned by the riders.”
Chatting about team-mate, co-owner of the factory BMW Motorrad UK backed 8TEN Racing project, 2024 Senior TT winner Davey Todd, he said:
“Davey and I want to beat each other but we can also help each other. At the recent test in Navarra, we rode our stockers and there were areas where each of us was faster.
We compared notes and in the end we both ended up with the same time. For us, the best-case scenario in any race, will be that we run at the front together and then battle it out for the win on the last lap.”
In addition to riding latest spec SBK, Superstock M1000RR BMW apparatus, Hickman’s 2025 NW200 venture will additionally feature action on PHR (Peter Hickman Racing) Performance 765 Triumph, R7 Yamaha (Swan title sponsored) metal.
Hickman will be joined in the PHR Performance squad by 2021 IRRC Supersport Champion Pierre Yves Bian (765 Triumph – Supersport / RS 660 Aprilia – Super Twins) and Triangle course first-timer Barry Burrell (BMW – Halliwell Jones backed).
Quotes courtesy of Stephen Davison
Photo courtesy of Stephen Davison
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
