Peter Hickman looks ahead to TT 2024
13-time TT winner Peter Hickman details the bikes he will ride at this year's event, from the big BMWs of FHO Racing to his own PHR Performance machines in the Supertwin and Supersport races.
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00:00So, the BM, it's the same old thing, it's a beautiful bike, you enjoy riding it, it's just like, as John often says, putting on a pair of familiar slippers, it's what you know and what you enjoy.
00:13Almost, yeah.
00:14Is there any, over the winter do you work on things?
00:18Yeah, so the bike's actually, I'm not going to say it's loads different, it's the same model that we raced last year, however there's been lots of updates from the team point of view.
00:28The engine spec has changed for BSB, whether we run that new engine spec at TT or we run last year's engine spec at TT is yet to be seen, or decided even.
00:40But there's lots of other changes on the bike that will probably, I would say almost 100% will be implemented here as well.
00:48And we just had our first test at Donington last weekend and so far so good.
00:54At times it's fair to say that you've been torn between using a Superstock bike in the senior or whatever at the end of the week and you sort of found out a better ride.
01:02No, the press have said it, internally, it's not really something we've ever massively discussed.
01:12From a press point of view everyone says, oh is he going to run the Superstock bike or Superbike?
01:17From an internal point of view we've never, we've had a light discussion about it, but next to zero every time it's always...
01:24You've stopped with the Superbike?
01:25Yeah, so I've never ridden the Superstock bike in place of the Superbike for whatever reason.
01:29In 2019 we had a bit of a hybrid situation, but we basically made it a Superbike but with a stock engine and electronics.
01:37And with the tyre change for the Superstock bike now, new slicks, how did that help assist you?
01:46John, the slicks to treads, they're so close, it doesn't make that much difference.
01:52Yes, the slick is slightly more stable, offers slightly more grip, but honestly the tread is...
01:58In 2022 we had to run the tread, rear dunlop in Superbike even, so with all the problems that we'd had that year.
02:05I won all three big bike races, including the Superbike races on a treaded Superstock rear tyre.
02:12So that just shows how good the tyre actually is, whether it's a tread or a slick.
02:17Yes, the slick is always going to be slightly better, but that's not to say the tread's bad.
02:22And this year you've got, the 765 is your own is it?
02:26Yes, so the 765 and the R7 Super Twin are both my own bikes and my own team, so my own employees.
02:32It's completely separate, FHO, it's all my own private team basically.
02:39And last year there was a few issues with the 700, and you borrowed an engine in the end.
02:44Yes, I borrowed Michael Rutter's engine, I actually raced on Rutter's engine in race 1, it was completely his engine.
02:50In race 2 it was half his engine, half my engine.
02:54But obviously I ended up buying it off him anyway.
02:56Oh did you?
02:57Yes, well once it's used, Michael didn't want it back did he?
03:00So I got an invoice instead.
03:03I can believe that.
03:05But no, it was credit to Michael really, it shows true sportsmanship doesn't it?
03:12I had a problem and I couldn't get out of it without somebody like his help.
03:16To be honest he didn't even bat an eyelid when I asked, he just went, yes don't worry, just take it.
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