Top 20 places for Peter Hickman at Oulton Park season opener
With teammate and joint team owner Davey Todd still recovering from his crash at the Daytona 200, it was left to Hickman to complete some pre-season testing and then further develop the bike at Oulton Park.
He said: “Continuing on from where we were in testing, the team are working really hard with this new package.
“It’s frustrating seeing the overall position currently, however we must keep an eye on the big picture and what we need to achieve.
“In Free practice two we made a good step forward, over a second faster than the first session and only 0.6 away from last year’s times, so it’s starting to come.”
In the opening race on Saturday Hickman completed the 18 laps in 20th position and said: “Obviously this is not where we want to be.
“However, the team have more data again and are working tirelessly to get the bike where we want it.
“Ssometimes we move forwards and sometimes we move backwards, but it’s all learning.”
Sunday’s Sprint race did see some improvement and Hickman brought the bike home in 19th position, saying: “Today was better than yesterday, in myself and the Superbike, so we’re moving forward as planned.
“We need to keep the momentum and the results will come with it.”
More changes were made prior to the final race but it didn’t go quite to plan and Hickman retired at the halfway stage of the race.
Hickman now travels to Northern Ireland to join his LEW 8TEN Racing team mate Davey Todd for the 2026 North West 200 road races where practice begins on Wednesday with racing on Thursday and Saturday.