Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman says he is not the one under pressure at this weekend’s Cadwell Park Bennetts British Superbike round.

Hickman took a brace of podiums last time out at Thruxton despite spending Saturday night in hospital with a kidney infection. Then he took wins at the Ulster Grand Prix so is right on form as he goes into his home round.

The Louth rider is currently eighth in the standings, 15 points behind Bradley Ray with Danny Buchan splitting them, so a couple of podiums could see him right in the Showdown mix.

“After everything that happened at Thruxton I am looking forward to Cadwell Park. It definitely wasn’t as I had planned the weekend to happen that’s for sure! I had felt ok going into the weekend and then on Friday I was on top form; we had some good practice sessions and I thought that everything was going good,” said Hickman.

“I started Saturday feeling a bit low and during the day I started to feel worse, but still managed to do qualifying and thought I just needed an early night. Then on Saturday night I was whisked off to hospital and told I needed to rest and go on a drip as I had a kidney infection. When I woke up on Sunday morning I actually felt mint again and I left hospital then headed back to the circuit.

“I felt ok in the races, although I had less energy at the end, so I felt a bit disappointed as although we had two podiums, I feel the pace that we had was good enough for race wins and that isn’t something I would normally say with so much confidence.

“Traditionally Cadwell Park has been a good circuit for me, so I need to keep my energy levels up and be out pushing for wins again. I think the pressure at the moment is more on Brad and Danny than me, as they have the position to lose rather than the position to gain; Cadwell Park and Silverstone are circuits I like and have been good for me in the past so I can’t wait.”