Changes proving costly for Hicky

Qualifying was going well for the 33-year-old rider, but as he went in to change to a new tyre for the final run, a huge crash brought the session to an early end.

Hickman’s Smiths Racing team mate Alex Olsen took the whole force of a bike that crashed into him. He was taken to Coventry hospital with suspected chest and other internal injuries.

Hickman said: “To say it’s been a tough, and frustrating, weekend would be an understatement and firstly my thoughts are with Alex. I really hope he’s back fit and well soon and back with us in the garage.

“With regards to my weekend, we’ve made every possibly change you can think of but the feeling with the bike has still been the same and the tyre change for 2020 has really hit us and the bike hard.

“With the amount of changes we’ve made, it’s hard to know what else we can do and all the other BMW riders seem to be in the same position.”

Because of the early end to the session Hickman was forced to start the first race on Saturday from down on the sixth row and with such a short circuit at Silverstone, (1.6mile) it would be a monumental task to catch up with the leaders.

But he gave it his best shot and made up places to 14th at the chequered flag.

Starting race two on Sunday once again from the sixth row, Hicky managed to get a good start and began to work his way through the midfielders, battling with Hector Barbera and Gino Rea to eventually make his way forward to 11th position.

The final race of the weekend saw Hickman start in 15th, battling with Ray, Rea and Francis to eventually secured 15th position at the flag.