TT 2018: Hickman: 'That's the hardest I've ridden a bike around here'

Peter Hickman has said today’s Superstock race was the hardest he’s ever ridden a bike around the 37.73-mile Isle of Man TT course.

The Smiths BMW rider smashed out two 134mph laps, including narrowly missing out on the outright lap record on his final lap with a speed of 134.403mph making him the second fastest rider in history around the mountain course.

However, after running on at Bradden Bridge and losing 20 seconds, Hickman clocked an average speed of 134.623mph between Glen Helen on lap one and Glen Helen on lap two.

“That’s the hardest I’ve ridden a bike here,” he said. “I was a bit annoyed with myself for running on at Bradden so I just got my head down and get on with it.

“The wind changed a bit in the race and pushed us into a few places. At the end of the mountain mile it was behind us and at the end of lap three I was so close to running on at the end of the mountain mile.

“Michael is always fast and he was fast then, and so was Dean, we all did sub-17 laps on the final lap. My standing start was a 17’06 and that was with running on at Bradden.”