Peter Hickman might have missed making the cut to be part of this year’s six-rider Showdown for the BSB title, but his continued development showed as he battled with five of the championship ‘title fighters’ in the second Silverstone race on Sunday.
Hickman was strong all weekend on the Quay Garage Tyco Honda, qualifying on the second row. He crashed out of race one but showed great determination to pick the bike up after the 120mph crash and tried to continue racing.
Race two, carrying a shoulder injury from the crash, Hickman rode one of his best races of the year, battling with five of the championship contenders plus factory Suzuki rider Jon Kirkham to finish an inspired seventh.
Hickman said: “It was probably good for everyone to watch as everyone continually swapped places – but not so good sitting there in seventh at the end.
“I got a better start in race one and that gave me the edge to run closer to the front. My shoulder wasn’t giving me too much pain but it kept collapsing in the corners – I just didn’t seem to have enough strength in the last four or five laps.
“Big thanks to the team again though, they worked their arses off all weekend and we proved once again that we can run with the front guys.”
Dan Linfoot made his debut with the team and finished 15th and 10th. He has been racing a Moto2 bike in Spain and coming back into BSB on a full-blown superbike took some getting used to.
“We’ve just been chipping away all weekend,” he said. “I like the bike but after the super rigid Moto2 chassis, racing a road-based superbike again took some getting used to. I got some arm-pump in the first race where I was fighting the bike too much and then we dropped back. For race two, we had done some work on my arm and made a couple of changes to the bike and went a lot better. I love the bike and the team and can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch.”
Quay Garage Tyco Honda BSB Evo competitor Patric Muff was making his Silverstone debut and finished fifth and fourth to maintain fourth place in the championship.
He said: “Wow, this is some race track. After the other BSB tracks it’s so wide and so flat. It’s also a long, long lap and very technical but it’s been a great experience and I’m happy with the results.”
Team owner Ian Woollacott added: “Peter has been unbelievable again this weekend. He’s been on the pace every session and despite that 120mph crash, he picked himself up and had a great second race. He’s doing an exceptional job for us.
“For Dan it was his first time on the bike and he did a great job too. He was P10, battling with people with a lot more experience – and people who have been on their bikes all year. He worked well with the team and there’s clearly so much more to come from him when he’s had more time on the bike at Brands.
“Patric did a great job again. Another new track for him and every session he’s lapped faster.”
