Hickman out to end Superbike duck 'sooner rather than later'

Peter Hickman says he wants to secure a maiden Superbike win at the North West 200 "sooner rather than later".

The Lincolnshire rider has won two Superstock races and two Supertwins events over the Triangle circuit, but has yet to break his duck in the feature class of the meeting.

He will return this year aboard BMW machinery with his 8TEN Racing team, plus a Triumph for the Supersport category.

"The North West 200 is one of the few places where I haven't won a Superbike race. It's something I need to chalk up. I need to get it added to the mantelpiece," Hickman told The BBC Bikes Podcast.

"There has always been something happened which has stopped me winning.

"I've had loads of bad luck, stuff that hasn't gone my way. It's something I want to get sorted sooner rather than later.

The 38-year-old had indicated last year that he had "probably" competed in his "last-ever" North West after controversy over a rules adjudication in one of Saturday's Superbike races.

Hickman declined to take his place on the podium after the race.

"There were lots of different things. There was of course the actual controversy. I actually came out of a meeting with a few people when I got interviewed and that was probably what tipped me over the edge a little bit, because I had a very heated discussion with people that had made decisions.

"But water under the bridge. Life goes on, racing goes on. I want to race bikes, I want to race the North West 200, and I'll be doing that in 2026."

Hickman and track rival Davey Todd set up their 8Ten Racing team last season but were playing catch-up in terms of preparation for the event.

"We actually had a pretty decent event in 2025 with a team that had only really been about with bikes for two weeks.

"We had zero testing, zero preparation time, we didn't even have our own truck. We borrowed a truck for the first half of the year. We're a long way better off in terms of preparation this year."

The 14-time Isle of Man TT winner loves the unique challenge and experience that the North West 200 brings.

"There is nothing quite like being able to slipstream and then be five abreast at not far off 200mph. literally inches from each other, with 100% mutual respect between each other.

"The thrill of being able to do that is like nothing else you can ever imagine. The North West 200 is a very unique and special place anyhow and the coast road in particular is one of the best pieces of tarmac in racing bar none.

He adds that "racing is life" for him as he takes on the responsibility of managing his own team, in addition to his riding.

"It's not just myself now. I do have other people riding for me. Davey and I jointly own 8Ten Racing but I also have the PHR Performance Team.

"We do a lot with other brands and other riders and it is quite a big going concern now. PHR is getting bigger and bigger as a race team which I wasn't really expecting. It's all going in the right direction. But I'm a racer, and that's what I'm there for."