Peter Hickman is gearing up for his home round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend at Cadwell Park as the FHO Racing BMW rider fights to make the cut for the 2022 Showdown with six races remaining to decide the line-up.
Hickman has previously clawed his way into contention at the final hurdle and the home hero is hoping history repeats itself as he targets a winning return to Lincolnshire to close down the current deficit. Last year, Hickman claimed the team their first victory in Bennetts BSB at Cadwell Park and heads to the event this weekend with aspirations for a repeat performance.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Hickman said: “Cadwell was almost a perfect weekend for us last year – we had two wins and a second place, I should’ve really won the last race but made a small mistake. I just pushed a bit too hard on the first turn of the last lap, nearly crashed, and Jason managed to just take advantage of it. But, if we can have a repeat of that this year that would be amazing!”
Ahead of this weekend’s three races at Cadwell Park, there are 43-points between himself and Tommy Bridewell currently holding eighth, so a podium return is crucial to Hickman and FHO Racing BMW making the cut for the Showdown.
“I’ve been faster nearly everywhere than what I’ve ever been before, but we haven’t quite been as fast as the front boys. It was nice to be a little bit closer at Thruxton so we need to carry that momentum through into Cadwell, so we can try to pile the pressure on and really score as many points as we can. Really, Tommy’s [Bridewell] the target for me. We need to try and keep that Ducati behind us and score as many points as possible.
“Cadwell is a home round, it has been a home round for me since I was 17 really. It’s just an amazing place and one of the best places to go and watch motorcycle racing in the world. You get so close as a fan, you really feel the speed, the energy that the bikes produce as well as the sound the superbikes make in particular. You’re so close to it, you can feel it resonate through your chest and that’s why Cadwell is just epic.”
Six races now remain to decide the final eight Title Fighters for the Showdown, but Hickman admits he won’t be giving up: “It’s the final hurdle, scraping in at the end, that’s 100% the plan for this year now. We want to try and take that last spot and then who knows what could happen in the last three rounds!”