Hickman: I’m confident despite broken bone in hand

PETER Hickman will be targeting the podium in today’s Supertwin races at the North West 200 on his new-look Swan Yamaha.

Hickman set the pace in qualifying on the machine from Richard Cooper, who has won the last four Supertwin races on Kawasaki machinery prepared by Ryan Farquhar.

He is better known for his prowess in the bigger capacity classes, but Hickman has won Supertwin and Supersport races at the Isle of Man TT and is a leading candidate against prerace favourite Cooper.

The 37-year-old is feeling battered and bruised after suffering three crashes during the British Superbike meeting at Oulton Park over the Bank Holiday weekend, leaving Hickman with a broken bone in his left hand.

However, he is confident he can give a good account of himself as he competes at the event on his PHR Performance machines in the absence of the FHO Racing team, who decided to sit out the North West following last year’s controversy over the carbon wheels on their BMW machines, which were deemed ineligible for the Superstock races.

“It’s a normal bike racer’s life but I’m okay, but I’ve a broken bone in my left hand which is not ideal,” Hickman said.

“I’ve been riding really strong all year, so I’m quite happy enough. I have to say a big thanks to the FHO Racing team for allowing me to even be here because obviously they’re not.”

On his new association with Swan in the Supertwin class, Hickman said the eye-catching colour scheme is a hit with fans.

“It’s the same bike that I raced here last year and the same bike that I won on at the TT last year, so Swan have come on board which has been fantastic and they’ve been great to work with so far,” he said. “Everyone loves the bike and the livery and it’s really striking colours, and great to have them back in the sport after 12 years.

“Anything can happen in racing and you’ve got to be in it to win it, and we will be in it, so let’s see what we can do.”

Along with Cooper and Hickman, three-time winner Jeremy Mcwilliams is among the leading challengers on the Bayview Hotel Paton long with Mike Browne (Aprilia) and Adam Mclean (J MCC Roofing Racing Kawasaki), who claimed his maiden North West 200 podiums in the class in 2023.