PIERRE-YVES BIAN GETS HICKMAN BACKING FOR 2023

Rising star Pierre-Yves Bian will contest the two Monster Energy Supersport Races once more at the Isle of Man TT Races, with the Frenchman riding for Peter Hickman’s PHR Performance team in 2023.

The 2019 Newcomers Manx Grand Prix winner will ride a 765cc Triumph built by PHR Performance and similar in specification to the bike Hickman rode to second and third in last year’s races.

PHR Performance have proven themselves as specialist builders of Triumph machinery in the Supersport class with Hickman’s TT results backed up on the world stage where Finland’s Nikki Tuuli took third place at the recent Indonesian round of the World Supersport Championship.

It’s not the first time that Bian and Hickman have worked together, with the pair having been team-mates last year on the VAS Engine Patons in the Supertwin class. Hickman took the race victory with Bian narrowly missing out on a dream podium finish in his first TT appearance.

Bian will ride a 765cc Triumph built by PHR Performance and similar to the bike Hickman rode to second and third in last year’s races

Bian’s performance further highlighted the 30-year old’s road racing credentials that include victory in the 2021 IRRC Supersport Championship and a Supertwin Race win at the 2022 North West 200, in addition to the Manx Grand Prix title.

With a lap in excess of 116mph during his Manx Grand Prix-winning ride, Bian went on to take 24th in the opening Monster Energy Supersport Race twelve months ago, increasing his personal best lap around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course to 119.371mph.

Claiming a Bronze Replica, he then added a Silver Replica to his haul after his sterling ride in the Supertwin Race where he was only denied a podium finish by a final lap charge from Paul Jordan – the gap between the duo at the chequered flag less than 7 seconds.

As well as the TT, Bian will also campaign the PHR Performance Triumph at the North West 200 and selected British Championship events.