New TT warm-up lap “helped” Hickman to Superbike win

For the first time since 2019, TT racing took place on the Isle of Man as the first six-lap Superbike contest of the week got proceedings underway.

Hickman dominated the race on his all-new BMW M1000RR, the Briton claiming his sixth TT win by 39.1 seconds from DAO Racing’s Dean Harrison.

Around 90 minutes before the race, a warm-up lap took place, which was installed into the schedule for 2022 as part of a raft of safety improvements introduced for this year.

Hickman, who completed a lap on his Superstock bike, says this helped him to get his eye in ahead of the Superbike race – allowing him to take the lead instantly on the first lap on the run to the first sector split at Glen Helen.

“The bike was absolutely the same as it was throughout practice, which was nice,” Hickman said after the race.

“It’s just a nice bike to ride, just really easier, which makes my life easier.

“I think the warm-up lap helped me get going a bit.

“But the first lap I was really surprised to have a three-second gap straight away pretty much, so it wasn’t what I expected but it was a nice surprise.”

Peter Hickman, Gas Monkey Garage by FHO Racing

Photo by: Dave Kneen

Starting 10th on the road, Hickman had several riders to clear on his charge through the field and says his sizeable advantage over second place gave him “a buffer” to safely pass without incident.

“It was absolutely fine because I had a buffer,” he said of the traffic.

“If I was only one or two seconds ahead of second place, then it would have been a different story.

“But as it was, I had like 13 or 14 seconds at the time, so I could take a sector to pass them.

“So, it was not so much of a problem. It was fine, just took my time and passed them where it was nice and easy.”

Hickman