Despite set up problems and lack of testing with the new Ultimate Racing Yamaha R1, Superbike Cup rider Peter Hickman rode to a brace of podium finishes in the opening rounds of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.
 
Hickman always knew the first couple of races would raise a few issues for him but he battled on through qualifying to make it onto the grid in 26th place for the start of his British Superbike campaign.
 
Well away from the action at the front of the field Hickman became embroiled in a three-way battle for supremacy with Aaron Zanotti and Alistair Fagan in the first of the two 30-lap races.

He eventually came through to take the chequered flag in 21st place in the main championship but as he is also contesting the Mirror.co.uk Cup which is run within the main championship he was delighted to find he was the third rider home in that class.
 
Race two went much the same way with Hicky securing a second podium finish in the Cup and an overall position of 23rd in the main championship.
 
“We struggled all weekend with bike set up as we had not ridden the bike until Friday,” explained Hickman. But its really good on the brakes, I can really lay on it but I am just struggling to turn the thing and hold a line and also with grip.

"But we have a few things we have worked on over the weekend and it was a lot better in race two and I am now looking forward to Oulton Park as we have a few more changes to make which will make the bike a lot better.”
 
Oulton Park is the venue for round two of the championship that takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend but prior to that Hicky is set to ride in the Le Mans 24-hour World Endurance race in France at the weekend (April 18/19) where he is the spare rider for the Phase One World Endurance team. Hicky will take part in the testing and qualifying sessions for the team, the outcome of which will determine the three riders to go forward into the race.