June 2023 – Road Racing News
Peter Hickman, the reigning master of the Isle of Man TT, has once again proven his unbeatable skills on big bikes. After a series of impressive wins, including his first victory in the Superstock class in 2018 and setting a new outright lap record at 135.452mph, Hickman has solidified his position as the top road racing contender.
Hickman’s Winning Streak
In 2019, Hickman’s winning streak continued with victories in the Superbike TT and the Superstock race. Although his unbeaten big bike run was briefly interrupted due to a mechanical issue, allowing Dean Harrison to take the win, Hickman bounced back in 2022, securing victories in all three big bike races on his FHO Racing-run BMW M1000RR.
Overcoming Adversity
This year, Hickman faced stiff competition from Michael Dunlop on the Hawk Racing Honda, who took the top spot in the Superbike TT, ending Hickman’s winning streak. However, Hickman fought back, overcoming bike issues and securing wins in the Superstock and Supertwin classes.
Bike Issues and Triumph
Hickman’s Superbike-spec BMW proved challenging throughout the TT, with violent instability and brake pad issues plaguing the bike. Despite these obstacles, Hickman was able to push through, eventually finding success with his FHO team. Speaking to Motorsport.com, Hickman said:
“The biggest issue is, we know what the problem is – we don’t know how to fix it… That’s the problem. And all the obvious things that you do aren’t working, and that makes it like a proper headscratcher because you don’t know what to do and what not to do.”
In the Superbike TT, Hickman’s bike developed a quickshifter issue, but he still managed to overhaul Dean Harrison and come close to a new outright lap record. When asked if he would have won the Superbike race without the mechanical issues, Hickman confidently replied:
“I mean, basically without the Superbike issue – without being a big head – I feel like I would have won the Superbike race, and then nothing would have been said.”
Rivalry and Controversy
The rivalry between Hickman and Dunlop heated up, with protests filed against Hickman’s Superstock wins. However, both protests were dismissed, and Hickman went on to shatter the outright lap record at the TT in the second Superstock contest with an incredible 136.358mph effort.
Dominance and Victory
In the Senior TT, Hickman’s FHO team made significant setup changes, which finally paid off. Hickman dominated the race, leaving his rivals behind and proving once again that he is the one to beat around the 37.75-mile course. When asked if his Senior TT win meant he was still the rider to beat, Hickman replied:
“It appears so!”
The Future of Road Racing
Hickman’s victory statement to his rivals is clear: to beat him on a big bike, they need to raise their game to his level. The partnership between Hickman and his FHO team is crucial, with Hickman trusting his team to prepare his bikes to perfection and the team relying on him to make the most of them.
As the 2023 TT comes to a close, Hickman’s 13th win puts him one behind grand prix legend Mike Hailwood. The stage is set for an epic rematch between Hickman and Dunlop in 2024, and road racing fans can’t wait to see what’s in store.
🔗 Source
