Peter Hickman

Louth Superbike ace Peter Hickman secured a fourth and second place in the two-leg third round of the Mirror.co.uk Superbike Cup at Donington Park on Monday, scoring further points in the main championship where he ended the two races in 16th and 14th position.

Qualifying went well for the Lincolnshire rider who, for the first time in the current campaign, made it through into the second shoot-out segment of the Roll for Pole contest. The top 20 riders went through to the second round which determined the grid for the two 20-lap races on Monday and Hicky put in some strong laps to claim 18th position – his best this season.

“Things have been going very well this weekend and we have taken a really big jump forward with the bike – basically because of the three week break since Oulton Park ,” said Hicky. “I still haven’t done any proper testing, just a track day here at Donington a couple of weeks ago but there were so many people on the track we couldn’t really call it a test. We have made significant progress with the bike over the past two weeks and it’s showed. We had a really good qualifying and got into the shootout for the first time. It’s just a pity I couldn’t have made it onto the front four rows but we are getting nearer and my lap times are quicker.”

As race one got underway Hicky was quick off the line and moved straight up to 16th but he made a mistake and ran wide on lap two, losing ground down to 24th position with a lot of work to do to get back on terms with the midfielders. But he kept his cool and picked off the riders ahead one by one until he reached 16th position (fourth in the cup) at the end of the race.

“I out braked myself at the Esses on the first lap,” explained Hicky. “I had to run over the gravel and dropped down as far as 24th before fighting my way back to 16th but it was very difficult. I also had a problem with the brakes. We haven’t got an adjuster on board so I couldn’t do it while I was riding.”

Race two saw Hicky encounter a problem in pit lane and he was forced to start the race from the back of the grid. But again the 22-year-old ace fought his way through the field this time finishing in 14th place overall to pick up a further two championship points plus his best finish in the Cup where he picked up 20 points for second place.

“That was amazing, especially after the start we had. With just a minute to get out onto the grid we encountered a problem and I was too late to take my grid position. They let me start from the back of the grid but it’s a long way back and I had to fight all the way through the race. I am well happy with 14th place and I passed Martin Jessopp on the last lap to claim second in the cup so was well chuffed.”

This fine set of results sees Hicky maintain his third position in the cup on 97 points and with the extra two points in the main championship he moves up to 21st in the British Superbike championship.

The next round is only a few days away and the Ultimate Racing team travel directly to Thruxton for round four of the series where free practice and qualifying take place on Friday and Saturday. The first of the two 20-lap races is set to start at 2pm on Sunday followed by leg two at 4.30pm.

Ultimate Racing star Peter Hickman rode to a brace of third places in the second round of the Daily Mirror.co.uk Superbike Cup at Oulton Park on Monday taking his tally to four third places in as many races and setting him in a comfortable third place in the rider standings.

The team worked hard during free practice and qualifying to find a suitable setting for the two 18-lap affairs and after a few adjustments the bike was handling much better, giving Hicky the confidence to go all out for a couple of good results.

Run within the main British Superbike championship Hickman was the fourth fastest Cup competitor and awarded an overall qualifying position of 21st for the start of the two races. The first encounter was red flagged for a crash involving one of the leaders but eventually the race got underway with Hickman moving up the field to finish third in the Cup and 18th overall.

“”We have moved forward with the development of the bike since Brands Hatch,” said Hickman. “And although we are still struggling a little bit with set up we are definitely going in the right direction. That was quite a hard race for me, as I have never really got on with the Oulton Park circuit. But I am improving and I brought it home in one piece. I messed up the start but luckily for me the race was red flagged and I got a much better start the second time around.”

Race two saw Hicky get away to a good start, moving straight into 18th place. As the race progressed he began to make up ground and completed the race in 15th place overall to pick up his first championship point of the new season in the main class and another third place in the Cup.

“I made a good start and just dug deep really. I hung onto the back of David Johnson for a while and then Martin Jessopp got past me so I sat behind him. But unfortunately I made a mistake at Hizzy’s and had to run across the grass so lost a bit of time and then ran on my own for the rest of the race,” said Hicky.

“I would like to thank all my team and also my sponsors for the effort they have all put in this weekend, its all finally beginning to come together for me.”

Hickman now turns his attention to the next round at Donington Park in three week’s time over the Whit Bank Holiday weekend when he will be chasing some more points in the main championship and another couple of podium finishes in the Cup.

British Superbike rider Peter Hickman from Louth rode to a fine eighth place in class (12th overall) for Italian team No Limits Suzuki in the Le Mans 24-hour World Endurance race over the weekend.

He originally qualified as the second fastest rider in the Phase One Yamaha team but was denied a ride when the team manager chose to use the three regular riders in the team for the race.

“I was disappointed not to have been picked to race for the team, especially as I had gone so well in qualifying. But just as I thought I was coming home early I had a call from an Italian team who had been let down at the last minute by a rider who had to return home,” explained Hicky.

“The Phase One mechanics had spoken with the No Limits team and told them I was free so they asked me to ride for them. It was a bit of a rush job to get the paperwork completed in time and I only had four laps of morning warm-up to familiarise myself with the bike but we made it onto the grid.

“The other two riders, Christer Miinin from Sweden and Emilliano Belluchi who is Italian are both a lot older than me and have bags of experience but they made me feel at home in the team which is nice.”

Team No Limits started the race down in 34th place but soon began to make progress up to eighth position. But then Miinin crashed twice during his sessions on the bike, which put the team back down the order. After the second crash the bike was only running on two cylinders but they persevered and crossed the finish line on a wing and a prayer at the end of a gruelling 24 hours in 12th place – eighth in class.

“It was a great experience, said Hicky. “But it was also very tiring and a lot of hard work. The track was wet for most of the race and conditions were akin to an ice rink and changeable from lap to lap. I did a couple of double stints on the bike during the night and after Miinin’s crashes we were nursing the bike home and didn’t really expect to finish. But as we were over six laps ahead of the next placed machine we decided to give it a go. It was a blessing in disguise for me to ride with the team as my original team only lasted two hours in the race before retiring with an overheating problem.”

Hicky now turns his attention back to the British Superbike championship when he contests the second round of the Superbike Cup at Oulton Park on Monday.

“We have made quite a few changes to the Ultimate Racing Yamaha R1 since Brands Hatch and we should go considerably better now. I really want to continue to end my races on the podium each time and perhaps move up to the top step before too long.”

Free practice and qualifying take place over Saturday and Sunday with the first 18-lap race scheduled for 1pm on Monday followed by leg two at 4.30pm.

Despite set up problems and lack of testing with the new Ultimate Racing Yamaha R1, Louth Superbike rider Peter Hickman rode to a brace of podium finishes in the opening rounds of the British Superbike championship and Cup at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday.

Hicky always knew the first couple of races would raise a few issues for him but he battled on through qualifying to make it onto the grid in 26th place for the start of his British Superbike campaign.

Well away from the action at the front of the field Hickman became embroiled in a three-way battle for supremacy with Aaron Zanotti and Alistair Fagan in the first of the two 30-lap races. He eventually came through to take the chequered flag in 21st place in the main championship but as he is also contesting the Mirror.co.uk Cup which is run within the main championship he was delighted to find he was the third rider home in that class.

Race two went much the same way with Hicky securing a second podium finish in the Cup and an overall position of 23rd in the main championship.

“We struggled all weekend with bike set up as we had not ridden the bike until Friday,” explained Hicky. But its really good on the brakes, I can really lay on it but I am just struggling to turn the thing and hold a line and also with grip. But we have a few things we have worked on over the weekend and it was a lot better in race two and I am now looking forward to Oulton Park as we have a few more changes to make which will make the bike a lot better.”

Oulton Park is the venue for round two of the championship that takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend but prior to that Hicky is set to ride in the Le Mans 24-hour World Endurance race in France at the weekend (April 18/19) where he is the spare rider for the Phase One World Endurance team. Hicky will take part in the testing and qualifying sessions for the team, the outcome of which will determine the three riders to go forward into the race.

Peter Hickman returns to the British Superbike Championship grid for 2009 and has declared that he wants to win the Daily Star Cup crown for the Ultimate Racing Yamaha team despite the growing opposition.

Hickman finished third in last year’s National Superstock 1000 Championship, finishing runner-up only to HM Plant Honda and Raceways Yamaha in his self-run Ultimate Racing team but now he is seeking a fresh challenge.

Hickman said: “I can’t wait to get back out on a superbike as running in BSB is so different to racing in the Superstock class. You have to be so accurate on a superbike in terms of braking, racing lines and acceleration compared to on a Superstock machine and you really can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

“I have decided to make the move back to BSB as this is progression for me and the Ultimate Racing team. Last season we proved that we can compete with the big teams in the championship on a limited budget in the Superstock class and now with extra backing from Sleaford Racing, Steve and Lindsay Pugh and Louth Volksworld I want to prove myself in BSB. I also have the ongoing support of CA Financial Management and new sponsor MC Electronics.”

“The competition is going to be tough and I know that Gary (Mason) is going to be up there like he was last season, but I have beaten him before and I don’t see why I can’t do it again. I want to be winning races in the Cup and then my aim is to upset some of the factory teams before the end of the year.”

Peter is currently in talks with Teams in the British Superbike and European Superstock 1000 Championships for the 2009 season.

After a very strong and consistant performance throughout the British Superstock 1000 Championship this year, finishing 3rd overall, Peter is looking forward to moving up into a bigger class. Commenting Peter said ‘This year has been fantastic considering all that we went through at the start! To finish 3rd in the Championship out the back of a van behind two factory teams with factory budgets has been great! I dont think anyone thought we would do it so its really nice to prove them wrong.’ Peter continued ‘I am in talks with teams in the British Superbike and also European Superstock 1000 Championships for 2009 and we are currently working out which is the best way forward. The budget is proving to be very hard to find at the moment for everyone but fingers crossed I will be on a competative bike next year and running at the front of whatever Championship we end up in!’

‘I would like to thank everybody who has helped out and supported me this year including all the fans you have all been great and I couldn’t have done it without you all, I hope I have some good news for you very soon!!’

Louth rider Peter Hickman rode to am impressive second place in the final round of the National Superstock championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday, missing out on the win by the closest of margins, a mere four thousandths of a second, from this year’s champion Steve Brogan. He also completed his British Superbike rides for Red Viper in 25th and 16th position to bring his 2008 season to a successful close.

In-form Hicky romped away to secure a front row start ahead of the final round of the Superstock championship and settled into third place in the opening laps. He remained behind Alistair Seeley until lap seven when he made a beautiful pass at Paddock Hill Bend to move up into second place behind Brogan.

As the race progressed Hicky began to close the gap between himself and the leader and made a passing manoeuvre at Druids on the last lap. Although he had his wheel in front at the apex he had to run wide to negotiate the hairpin and Brogan regained his position. But Hickman was not beaten and pushed hard on the final half of the lap. His last chance to take the win was at Clearways on the approach to the chequered flag. But although the pair crossed the line together it was Brogan who got his tyre over the line first to seal the victory. The margin was so small, the gap was undistinguishable to the eye but the timekeepers were able to separate the two by just 0.004s.

Hickman had just under an hour to regain his composure before forming the grid for the final two legs of the 2008 British Superbike Championship where he again deputised for the injured Aaron Zanotti on the Red Viper Honda.

Qualifying threw up a few niggling problems for the 21-year-old rider but he battled through to clinch 22nd place on the grid and a start from row six.

The gremlins returned in the opening race and Hickman completed the 30 laps in 25th place. But after some hurried adjustments the bike handled much better and Hicky rode through to a strong 16th place, missing out on a points finish by less than half a second.

“The Superstock race went really well for me,” said Hicky. “You cant get any closer than 0.004 of a second. I was a little disappointed I didn’t get the win but other than that everything went really well. The team has been fantastic all year so I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Ultimate Racing, Sleaford Racing and all our sponsors and supporters.

“The Red Viper Honda wasn’t very well in the first race. We had a problem with the number one bike this morning so I had to ride the second bike, which had not been ridden all weekend. In the race it developed a really bad front-end problem and every time I tried to turn in it tried to spit me off so I ended up a long way back. I basically stayed out there just to find out exactly what had gone wrong and we did manage to figure out what the problem was. The second race went really well. It took me a couple of laps to make sure the bike was ok but then I got my head down and just missed out on the points, so at the end of the day I am feeling really happy.”

With 20 points gained on Sunday, Hickman consolidated his third place in the final standings in the Superstock championship with a 17-point advantage over Alistair Seeley who was third in the race on Sunday.

Sunday completes Hickman’s season of racing – unless he and the team find the finances to race at the final round of the European Superstock championship at Portimao in Portugal on November 2.

Louth rider Peter Hickman travelled to Magny Cours in France for the penultimate round of the European Superstock 1000 championship where he completed the 14-lap race in 21st place on Sunday.

“I was a little disappointed with my result,” said Hicky. “It was my first time at Magny Cours and I had to learn the track. But the weather was against us as it rained continuously all day Friday and Saturday. That suited me fine and I was 14th quickest in first qualifying, but the rain dried up for Saturday afternoon when we did our final qualifying and I had just 25 minutes to find a dry set-up and get up to speed. That resulted in me only making it to 24th on the grid for the race.”

Hicky began his race from the sixth row of the grid and did eventually move forward to complete the 14 laps in 21st position.

“I was trying a bit too hard and subsequently made a few mistakes which cost me time. I really should have been further up the field and not mixing it with those further back. But we came to Magny Cours with the sole intention of gaining circuit knowledge and we managed to get a wet and dry set up so we did achieve something from the weekend.”

Hicky travels directly from France to Brands Hatch where he is to again ride the Red Viper Honda Fireblade in the final two rounds of the British Superbike championship on Sunday.

He is also contesting the final round of the Metzeler National Superstock championship for Ultimate Racing and will be looking for a strong result to consolidate his third place in the rider standings.

Free practice and qualifying take place over Friday and Saturday with the two 30-lap British Superbike races set for 2pm and 4.45pm on Sunday. The 22 lap Superstock race is set to start at 12.30pm on Sunday.

A busy weekend was in store for Louth rider Peter Hickman who was a last minute entry into the British Superbike championship and rode to two strong finishes for Red Viper Racing plus scored a fourth place in his regular championship campaign in the Metzeler National Superstock series.

Hicky was drafted into the Red Viper Honda squad to sub for regular rider Aaron Zanotti who is sidelined with injuries sustained in a crash at Croft in the last round of the series.

The last time that Hicky rode a Superbike was at Mallory last year so he took his time to acclimatise himself to a return to slick tyres and a more powerful machine.

“It’s the first time I have ridden a Honda so it’s taken me a few laps to get used to the different handling,” said Hicky. “But apart from my starting procedure I seem to have adapted quite well.”

Throughout free practice Hicky progressed up the order and was circulating well within the top 20 during qualifying. The new qualifying procedure saw Hicky excel and he made it through to the second phase where he claimed 19th position for a start from a fifth row grid position.

Although he made a poor start and dropped back to 26th on the opening lap of race one, Hicky soon got to grips with the Honda and made excellent progress through the backmarkers to complete his race in 14th place and pick up two championship points on his first attempt.

Race two saw the 21-year-old rider make a slightly better start and progress through to finish in 16th place, just missing out on a points scoring finish.

“Its been a bit hectic as I havent been out of my leathers all day!” said Hicky. “It’s gone really well for me today in the Superbike class. I had a bit of a problem with the Honda as I found it really hard to get off the line at the start and found myself dropping from 19th to near enough last both times. I also had a problem with a misfire in race two, we are not quite sure what it was but I had oil all over my boot so its thrown oil out from somewhere. Other than that the team has worked really well all weekend so I was really chuffed, especially to score two championship points as I havent ridden in the Superbike class for over a year.”

Hicky also contested the penultimate round of the Superstock championship on the Ultimate Racing Yamaha R1 where he qualified in fifth place for a second row start.

He didn’t get away to the best of starts and was circulating in eighth place for the first few laps before making his way forward. He made a beautiful pass on Victor Cox to move up to sixth place and was elevated to fifth when another rider crashed ahead of him.

He continued to hunt down Richard Cooper and gradually reeled him in to claim fourth place on lap 13. By this time the leaders were too far ahead to make any further progress and Hicky had to be content with fourth place at the chequered flag.

“I am pleased with fourth place,” said Hicky. “The bonus for me is that the other three riders who were chasing for third place in the championship either crashed or made a mistake and didn’t score points at all so I find myself 12 points clear and third in the championship so I am pretty happy with that!”

Hicky now turns his attention to the European Superstock championship where he has a wild card ride with Ultimate Racing in the penultimate round of the series at Magny Cours in France on Sunday. He then returns to the UK to travel directly to Brands Hatch for the final round of the National Superstock Championship and is on standby with Red Viper Racing in case ex-Vivaldi rider Aaron Zanotti is still not fit enough to ride in the British Superbike class.

In a frantic dash to the finish line, Louth rider Peter Hickman took advantage of series leader Steve Brogan to snatch third place in round 10 of the Metzeler National Superstock championship at Croft on Sunday, his second podium in as many rounds.

Qualifying saw Hicky put together a string of fast laps to secure a front row start in third place alongside fellow Lincolnshire rider Ben Wilson and as the 15 lap race got underway on Sunday afternoon and settled into fourth place behind race leader Jon Kirkham, series leader Steve Brogan and Ben Wilson.

Realising there was a huge battle between Brogan and Wilson developing in front of him, Hicky remained in fourth place just a fraction behind the dispute and the four riders all pulled clear of the pursuing pack.

Once or twice Hicky showed Wilson his front wheel but was unable to make the move stick and so played the waiting game, hoping to make a pass later in the race.

As they all went into the final lap the action ahead was even more intense. Wilson got past Brogan at the final corner and the latter glanced behind. He lost momentum and Hickman pounced. In the dash to the flag Hicky outpaced Brogan to clinch third place for the second podium finish of the season in third place for Ultimate Racing.

“I got away fairly well,” said Peter. “I was third into the first turn but dropped to fourth and sat behind Brogan and Wilson who were swapping places at nearly every corner. I just thought I would sit at the back of them and if they did take each other out I was there to pick up the pieces.

“On the second to last lap I got blocked by a back marker, the other two got through but I didn’t, so must have lost at least a second on them. I thought pretty much that that was going to be it but on the last lap I caught loads of time up and was right back with them in the last sector. I don’t quite know what Brogan was doing but he looked over his shoulder and must have shut the throttle off at the same time. I just sailed past him and was gifted third place. When you are given it, take it!!!”

With the 16 points accrued from Croft, Hicky moves up a place to joint fourth in the rider points but with 50 more points on offer in the final two rounds and the rider ahead just one point away from him, he could easily find himself in third place at the end of the season.

The next round is at Silverstone in Northamptonshire on September 28 and Hicky will be hunting down another good result as he heads to the season finale at Brands Hatch in mid-October.