Peter Hickman

Louth Superbike rider Peter Hickman recorded two podium finishes at Knockhill on Sunday to move within 40 points of the series lead in the Mirror.co.uk Cup that is run within the British Superbike championship.



Hicky has never shone at the Fife circuit but on this occasion he rode to a fine 14th place in qualifying to start his two 30-lap races from a fourth row grid position.



“The weekend is going ok for me actually,” said Hicky. “I have never really got on too well at Knockhill but I am fairly happy here this year and have produced my best qualifying position of the season. I like the circuit and enjoy riding here but I have never had a good result here yet.



“To put in my best qualifying of the year on a bike that is not really as quick as everyone else is good. The bike is handling really well, this last couple of meetings has seen a vast improvement and with Knockhill being a short twisty circuit that’s what we need sooner that the sheer power at other circuits. I have been trying to get up onto the front four rows for the last few rounds and I have achieved that here. I am only 0.1s away from 11th place and was running in 10th for a while in the first session so I am really happy.”



Race one saw Hicky secure 12th place overall and second in the Cup. Series leader Gary Mason crashed mid-race and Hicky ended his race in second place to pick up a further 20 championship points which sees him edge nearer to the series lead.



“I got away fairly well but seemed to struggle in the first few laps. But once I got myself into a rhythm the bike felt good, although I did seem to struggle a bit with rear grip. But all in all the bike has been working well all weekend and 12th is my best result ever at Knockhill.”



Race two saw Hicky power the Ultimate Racing Yamaha R1 through to a 14th place finish in the main British Superbike championship to seal third place in the cup and step onto the podium once again.



“I was a little bit disappointed with race two to be honest,” said Hicky. “We made a couple of changes to the bike but it made absolutely no difference whatsoever. Again I struggled a bit with rear grip and after Ian Lowry came across the line with smoke pouring out his bike I backed off as I thought the race would be been red flagged. There was that much oil about that it really wasn’t safe, but the organisers for whatever reason didn’t do that. I am sure if someone had fallen off then it would have been stopped but why wait until that happens. Because I backed off I lost touch with the group I was circulating with and completed the race in a very lonely 14th position.



“Tom Bridewell actually did me a favour by taking the win in the Cup because Gary Mason only finished in second place so I have not lost out on so many championship points and with him not finishing the first race I am now only 40 points away from him.”



The next round is a little closer to home at Mallory Park on July 19. Hicky has always gone well at the Leicestershire circuit and will be hoping to record a strong finish to his two races in order to move nearer to the series lead.