Peter Hickman

Peter Hickman’s connection to the Isle of Man TT Races can be traced way to way before he was racing, with his Dad Dave a known regular on the British racing scene both in the 1970s and 1980s, firstly as a rider and then an engineer. Indeed, the Burton upon Trent rider was victorious on the Mountain Course in 1977 when he won the Lightweight Manx Grand Prix and then returned for several years as an integral part of both the factory Norton and Honda teams where his engineering prowess was fully utilised.

With Peter starting racing at a young age – he was only 18 when he first competed in the British Superbike Championship in 2006 – Dave tried his best to keep him away from the roads but by 2014, he could do so, no more. Peter had decided the time was right to tackle the International road races and with well over a decade’s short circuit experience under his belt, Dave didn’t stand in his way and gave him all the support he needed. 

To say he’s come a long way since making his TT debut in 2014 would be the understatement of the decade. Peter has taken road racing to a new level - in a similar way to that of David Jefferies in the late 1990s - he’s now, without doubt, the current King of the Mountain. That statement is only enhanced when you look at his record elsewhere, with dominant performances at the Ulster and Macau Grand Prixes as well as wins at the North West 200.

Following in the footsteps of fellow BSB riders Steve Plater and Josh Brookes, Hickman upstaged them both when he became the fastest ever newcomer in 2014 and what he’s achieved since has been nothing short of superb. If you look at his TT record since 2017, it’s simply sensational. In just 5 years, Peter has achieved twenty seven podiums across 31 races.

Thirteen of Hickman’s podium finishes have been wins and only a few technical gremlins outside of his control have prevented him winning more. His speed across the classes has been consistently at lap record pace. Always relaxed and cheerful, Hickman has overtaken both Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson in the TT pecking order and he’s on record-breaking pace no matter what the race. In 2023, Peter beat his own previous record, to set a new current outright lap record of 136.358mph in the second RL360 Superstock TT Race - a staggering result that further highlights his dominance.

It’s no small coincidence that Hickman’s success has come with the same team, Smiths Racing who then morphed into FHO Racing, it seems continuity that has stood him in great stead. The ultra-professional team has a family atmosphere that suits him down to the ground and with a long-standing relationship with his crew chief Darren Jones, everyone in the team knows their role. Along with his own talent, confidence and laid-back approach, that has, ultimately, played a huge part in his success which makes for a formidable combination. 

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Peter’s such a brilliant all-rounder who can win wherever he goes whether it’s the short circuits or the roads. He’s been there, done it and whilst size may be a problem at BSB, it’s not at the TT and it, perhaps, gives him an advantage. He’s still young in racing terms, so there are plenty more wins in the locker and he’s currently the clear TT favourite whatever the class. Peter is the man to beat and it’s up to everyone else to up their game.

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