Hickman and the FHO BMW Race team headed to Silverstone National circuit to get their 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship started over the sunny Easter weekend. Hicky made no secret that this round was going to be about damage limitation.
On Friday during FP1 and FP2 Hicky completed over 58 laps of the Silverstone circuit looking for ways to improve lap times, but it was a tough day with the leading 24 riders separated by just 0.954s.
Saturday’s qualifying was disappointing after the team’s hard work, he managed to get into Q2 with a 53.328 from Q1 but only managed a 53.512 from the second session, giving Hicky a P16 start.
Race One 24 Laps
In a fast and furious few laps, Peter moved up through the field. Battling with Jackson and following Sykes for a few laps then getting past. Jackson and Buchan were just unreachable in the closing stages, Hicky stayed ahead of the two chasing Ducati’s and finishing in 11th, his fastest lap time of the day gives him a P11 start for Race Two. Hicky’s fastest lap was 53.585 on lap15
Race Two 30 Laps
Again a fast-paced race with Hicky, Buchan, and Bridewell all evenly matched in speed, there was nothing in it. Iddon had Hicky for company most of the race but as tyres started to fade Hicky gained the advantage he needed to get by him. Lapping consistently in the 53s, the others around him were starting to slow into the 54s taking a well earnt 7th and a great result for him coming from 11th.
Hicky’s fastest lap was 53.546 on lap 4.
Race Three 30 Laps
Starting from 11th on the grid, Hicky was with the same riders from the green light, Iddon, Sykes, and Jackson. The race pace was fast and everyone lapping identically, Hicky again got the advantage later on in the race with the 53s and others around him dropping into the 54s. Hicky crossed the line in 9th.
Hicky’s fastest lap was 53.538 on lap 16.
Peter Hickman
“I’m quite happy with the 3 results we got here. I knew it would be a tough weekend but we made some really good improvements. Happy with the feeling I have from the bike on this hard tyre, which as you know, I don’t like.
We ended up not too far away in the end, 6 seconds from the win in the final race starting from row 4 wasn’t horrendous.
Points in all three races were the weekend’s main aim, with no crashes trying to get as many points. A 7th, 9th and 11th, I’ll take that and we move onto Oulton Park and see what we can do there.
A massive thanks to all my sponsors and everyone that came to say hello! ”
Hicky
British Superbike Round One, Silverstone