Like most riders, TT 2019 has been a frustrating time for Peter Hickman and possibly more so for the Smiths Racing rider than others having arrived on the island with the all-new BMW S1000RR.

With no previous data to work from, unlike other teams and riders, due to the 2019-spec BMW being vastly different to the previous year’s model, good weather and practice was what he and the team needed to get the BMW set up, something that they simply haven’t had.

Speaking to bikesportnews.com on Friday, Hickman was naturally frustrated but also philosophical.

“The weather’s the same for everyone and there’s nothing we can do about it but I’ve only done three so laps so far and just 14 miles on the Superbike.

“Some of the other riders are in a better position than me as they’ve done eight or nine laps but with a brand new bike, we need track time, it’s as simple as that.”

I need the track time too as I haven’t been here for a year and the circuit always changes year on year.

“Quite a few of the others have done the Classic TT and I missed the opportunity of getting a good few laps in on the opening night as we were competing at Donington so I’m behind them a little with how the track’s shaping up this year.

“I think Dean (Harrison) got six laps in on the first night and I had a couple of issues on Tuesday so missed out on at least two laps then as well. We need a break with the weather but, like I say, so does everyone, the organisers especially.”

In an ideal world, I’d like to have half a dozen laps on each bike before we go racing so that I understand all of them and know how they’re all performing. That would be a nice situation to be in but the weather’s obviously not playing ball.

“On the plus side, I did two laps on the Triumph Supersport on Tuesday evening and did close to 124mph straight out of the blocks. That was on my second lap at this year’s TT and the bike felt great so I was pretty happy with that.”