2022 Isle of Man TT | Peter Hickman hints at more to come as race week kicks off
The Louth rider has been in fine form over the course of qualifying practice, which concluded on Friday evening, Hickman ending up top in three of the four solo classes (Superbike, Superstock and Supertwins) he will contest.
Long considered the favourite for glory on the Gas Monkey FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR he will ride in Superbike and Superstock, Hickman achieved his fastest speeds on Thursday with a 133.220mph effort. It. made him the only rider to exceed 133mph-plus all week.
Even so, it was his Friday effort of 132.874mph - which itself was comfortably quicker than second place man Dean Harrison’s best of the week - that caught attention since it was achieved in less than ideal conditions, Hickman admitting to 'rolling off' in several areas that were damp.
With perfect conditions forecast for today’s Superbike TT, Hickman admits things have gone as well as could be hoped in preparation for what will be an intense week of racing competition around the notorious Mountain Course.
“It’s been a good week of qualifying and although we’ve had a few little issues here and there with the bikes to begin with, the boys have all worked hard to rectify them and I was more than happy with the 133mph+ lap.
“I was equally as happy with Friday evening’s lap as conditions were far from ideal and I was rolling off all the way through the damp patches so it bodes well for the opening Superbike race. You can never be too confident at the TT bit it’s definitely been a case of so far, so good.”
As well as leading the way in Superbike and Superstock, Hickman held a slight advantage over Michael Dunlop in the Supertwins category aboard an identical Paton.
