Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman put down more laps inside the 1’26’s than any other rider, during the second MCE British Superbike free practice session at Cadwell Park.
The local rider clocked five 1’26 laps during the 45 minute outing, compared to Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne who did three 1’26 rotations on his Panigale. Hickman did five consecutive laps at the Lincolnshire circuit inside the 1’26’s and in the end his best time was a 1’26.714.
When the chequered flags came out he was bumped down to third on the timing-screens as Byrne and RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon went two tenths quicker, but Hickman is not too disheartened by this as he was pleased with his consistently quick form.
The S1000RR rider has just returned from a successful Ulster GP, where he won multiple races. He initially thought he might struggle with the change from the roads, to track racing and adapting to the different tyre manufacturers too. But in the end that did not faze him as he went fastest in the first free practice session.
“Lap time came and I didn’t expect it too much. I have just been to the Ulster and then I come here and trying to get your head back into gear at a short circuit is hard work and changing tyre manufacturers never helps either,” said Hickman, speaking to bikesportnews.com.
“We ended up P1 at the end, this afternoon even though I ended up P3 I went faster than I have ever been round here before, and a tenth off lap record. The bike is going really well and I was really consistent and I did five 1’26’s.”