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2023 North West 200
Peter Hickman, the North West 200 outright lap file holder, and his new FHO BMW Racing team-mate, Josh Brookes visited the north coast circuit not too long ago forward of Could 7-13 race week.
Hickman, who was already the quickest rider across the Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix circuits, set the brand new North West mark of 124.7999mph on the FHO M1000RR machine throughout final yr’s Anchor Bar Superbike race to finish a full set of file speeds in any respect three of the premier worldwide highway races.
“It’s good to have the total set.” Hickman smiled after a sighting lap of the 8.9 mile Triangle course with Brookes.
“And it got here throughout a gathering when issues weren’t going to plan for me in any respect. Something that would go unsuitable did go unsuitable final yr!”
The 35 yr outdated had been on the entrance of the opening Superbike race pack on the primary lap when he hit impartial on the strategy to College nook and ran straight on. After setting the brand new file lap he labored his method again as much as sixth place and was nearly to go Josh Brookes when his rear Dunlop tyre delaminated alongside the excessive pace run to College.
“I used to be doing 197 mph when the tyre let go.” he recalled.
Dunlop suffered issues with a few of their tyres finally yr’s North West, ultimately forcing the withdrawal of all of the riders who have been operating theirrubber from the ultimate Superbike occasion.
“On the time I didn’t know something concerning the issues Dunlop have been experiencing with their tyres and that different riders had suffered the identical factor.” Hickman defined.
“There was simply this huge vibration.” he mentioned, dismissing the incident as typical of his luck on the north coast occasion the place he’s nonetheless chasing his first Superbike race win regardless of claiming Superstock wins in 2018 and 2019.
“Each time I’m ready to win plainly one thing goes unsuitable.” he smiled ruefully.
“One yr I even had a stone undergo a hose which simply doesn’t occur.”
The world’s quickest highway racer, who made his NW200 debut in 2014, intends to place that proper in 2023.
“I need to win a superbike race right here. I’ve come right here so lengthy now and by no means completed it. I’ve obtained to drag the finger out and do it. We’ve the tempo to win, we simply have to get all the celebrities to align after which possibly I can beat the house hero, Glenn Irwin!”
Alongside his outings within the Superbike and Superstock races on the FHO Racing BMWs this yr, Hickman will even line up on a Trooper Beer 675cc Triumph within the Supersport occasions and a R7 Yamaha in his personal Peter Hickman Racing livery within the Supertwins races. Final yr’s Twins race winner, Pierre Yves Bian, will associate the Burton on Trent racer aboard a Paton within the PHR squad.
Hickman will even face the problem of BSB team-mate, Josh Brookes, within the Superbike and Superstock occasions at Portrush. The Australian has additionally been a former NW200 outright lap file holder after setting a brand new mark in simply his second look on the occasion in 2014 aboard a Milwaukee liveried Yamaha.
“I used to be dicing with Michael Dunlop within the final superbike race after I ran on to the grass at Mather’s chicane.” the previous double BSB champion recalled.
“I set the brand new lap file as I used to be chasing Michael again.”
That was the Bringelly rider’s final outing on the north coast races till final season when he returned on a PBM Ducati Panigale, ending on the rostrum within the function Merrow Resort Superbike race.
“I used to be considering that there could be some adjustments to the course however as quickly as I obtained again out once more I felt as if I’d by no means left.” the 39 yr outdated mentioned.
“It was a pleasing shock.”
Brookes will even trip a superstock spec M1000RR BMW this yr alongside his superbike outings as he adjusts to the German machine he final raced within the World Superbike sequence throughout 2016.
“I’ve been using and racing over the winter in Australia so I’ve had a while to adapt to the BMW.” the 2015 and 2020 British Superbike champion defined.
“The bike has a brand new engine this yr which has very totally different traits.”
Brookes is assured he can provide teammate Hickman, who has rather more expertise on the M1000RR, a run for his cash at Portrush.
“I do know that I can race competitively alongside Peter on the North West. The goal needs to be to win races. I used to be on the rostrum final yr, Peter set a brand new outright lap file on the BMW and the bike is even higher now so I don’t assume that’s unrealistic.”
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