Peter Hickman joins GBmoto Honda for 2013
Peter Hickman will return to Honda machinery for the 2013 MCE British Superbike Championship after inking a deal with the GBmoto team.
One of the more experienced BSB riders with 145 starts under his belt, Hickman began 2012 with MSS Bathams Kawasaki, but was dropped three rounds into the season after seemingly accepting a one-off World Superbike ride at Suzuki without the blessing of his employers.
Despite this, Hickman would later land at Buildbase BMW, where he proceeded to enjoy several runs to the points for the remainder of the season.
The move to GBmoto will see Hickman reunited with the CBR1000RR two years after turning heads with an impressive 2011 BSB campaign on a Tyco Honda, one that yielded 17 top ten finishes and a career-best result of second place. With this in mind, Hickman is delighted to be returning to familiar machinery for his 2013 campaign.
"Getting a competitive ride, that will see me able to challenge for podium places as well as the end-of-season Showdown, was vitally important going into 2013," he said. "And GBmoto are a team that I definitely feel are able to offer me that opportunity.
"The bikes are the equal of anything on the grid, and the team that I'll be working with are an amazing bunch of individuals that are all proven experts in their field. I can't wait to start testing!"
After plying its trade at National Superstock level initially, GBmoto Honda stepped up to British Superbikes with Tristan Palmer and Luke Quigley in 2012, but neither rider would score a top ten finish. Nonetheless, team principal Mark Smith-Halvorsen has very high hopes with Hickman for 2013.
"I am really pleased to sign Peter, who scored 17 top ten results in 2011 on a Honda. He has shown he can compete with anybody in the British Championship, and his natural ability was highlighted this season.
"His signing, together with significant upgrades to our CBR1000RR Hondas, and a new team infrastructure, demonstrates our continued commitment to BSB, and our desire to compete at the very highest level of the world's leading domestic superbike series."
