Isle of Man outright lap record holder Peter Hickman is devastated by the cancellation of this year’s TT, according to Smiths BMW manager Darren Jones.

The Louth rider was all set for another bumper year on the island but will have to wait until 2021 while an announcement regarding this year’s BSB schedule is expected shortly.

“It goes without saying that everyone at the team is gutted. I don’t know the ins and outs of the decision but I am surprised it’s been cancelled so early, I thought it may have been postponed or pushed back to the August date but it is what it is and everyone’s safety comes first,” Jones told bikesportnews.com

“We’re obviously disappointed given our success of recent years and we had some big things happening this year which would have been great for the team but now we’ll just have to wait and see what happens with those.”

“Pete’s obviously devastated as the TT has become his main event, certainly the one that provides the most income, and like I say, I’m just surprised the cancellation has come as early as what it has with seemingly no option of postponing it until later in the year.

“I’m sure the IOM Government would have wanted to have run it if they could though and they know better than me so all we can do is accept the decision and look forward to 2021.”