Brands Hatch was the final destination for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship 2023 season and Hicky really wanted to finish the season on a high.
The Free Practice sessions went well and Hicky put himself straight into Q2 once again with a 1:26.128 taking P2 in the dry session, a very positive start to the weekend.
Qualifying on Saturday was delayed due to weather and race hold-ups but Peter bounced back from his Free Practice 3 crash to qualify fifth on the FHO BMW in wet conditions.
Race One 12 laps
The circuit was damp for Race One, with a dry line starting to appear. Hickman got away fairly well from row two but got caught up in a battle with other riders while the leading group broke away. Hicky finally made the progress needed and got himself free but the gap to catch Iddon was too much, leaving Peter to cross the line in P6.
Hickman’s fastest lap of the race was 1:26.596 on lap 10
Race Two 20 laps
A third row start for the first race on Sunday. Hicky started alongside teammate Josh and Charlie Nesbitt. Hicky got himself stuck in amongst a pack of riders including Stacey and Nesbitt and had to settle for P9 in the end.
Hickman’s fastest lap of the race was 1:26.062 on lap 13.
Race Three 20 laps
Hicky was starting mid-pack in P12 for the final race of the 2023 season and didn’t get the start he hoped for. A near miss with other riders at the exit of Druids caused Hicky to sit the bike up, losing valuable tenths and dropping back to P15. Getting past Andy Irwin on lap 2, chasing Kennedy and Stacey, who were having their battle ahead, eventually passing them but then dropping back with a technical issue, forcing Peter to retire with a lap to go.
Hickman’s fastest lap of the race was 1:26.190 on lap 2.
Peter Hickman:
Race 1: 6th / Race 2: 9th / Race 3: DNF
“2023 has been a really tough year for me in BSB. It’s been a year full of potential but with no results to show for it. The amount of bad luck we’ve had has been unreal, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes!
The last three rounds we’ve actually been a lot stronger, again, we’ve not had the results, but our pace and speed has been pretty close, if not matching the front boys. Everyone has worked so hard behind the scenes, so a massive thank you to Faye and the entire FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team, they have stuck by me through this bad season – 12th in the championship is not where we should be!
I also want to say a massive thank you to our sponsors and all the fans because the support I get weekend in and weekend out, regardless of where I’m finishing is absolutely phenomenal. So a massive, massive thank you to everybody who’s been watching and supporting, it’s not been my year, however, it wasn’t through lack of trying and I certainly won’t be giving up anytime soon!”
2023 SEASON DONE AND DUSTED