Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman has rarely been outside the top three times during the eighth round of the MCE British Superbike series at his local circuit of Cadwell Park.
Since Friday he has been consistently quick and it was no different today. Fresh from his Ulster GP success the S1000RR rider started the race weekend all guns blazing and was on a mission from the start to get into podium contention for the double-header on Sunday.
During the qualifying sessions, Hickman made sure that he would end up on the front row and put down a 1’26.346 and went under the current lap record at the circuit. But he was a tenth shy off the pole time, which eventually went to Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne.
Hickman, who is a previous race winner at the Lincolnshire circuit, found the weather conditions rather windy and felt that he was even pushed wide on some parts of the track and the blustery conditions affected his braking methods in places too.
“Really, really happy and the team have done an awesome job,” said Hickman, speaking at the track.
“It was a bit windy this afternoon and in a few places it is pushing you wide and then you tuck the front and in other places you can brake ten meters later than you should be able to as the wind is holding you back.
“We are on the front row and it is always hard to get away here. Qualifying is a real key part of a race. We have done the first bit and now we are ready for the races tomorrow.”
