Peter Hickman says he will take the positives of the lattermost rounds of a difficult 2023 British Superbike Championship season behind him as he looks ahead to a step up in form for next year.

One of the series’ most steadfast frontrunners, Hickman has previously made it into the Title Showdown on four occasions but even with this year’s format tweak designed to keep the championship fight alive to the final rounds, he struggled to mount a challenge.

Ending the season without a win or a podium to his name, Hickman would fade to 12th in the overall standings on the FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR - competing with factory backing for the first time in 2023 - and evaluate it as a ‘tough’ one.

2023 BSB Championship | FINAL Standings

“2023 has been a really tough year for me in BSB; it’s been really hard, which I think is the best way to describe it. I’ve not shown my potential and we’ve not had many strong results and it’s not gone my way at all. The last three rounds we’ve actually been a lot stronger, again, we’ve not had the results, but our pace and speed has been pretty close to the front. 

“Everyone has worked so hard behind the scenes, so a massive thank you to Faye and the entire FHO Racing BMW Motorrad team, they have really stuck by me through this bad season – 11th in the championship is really not where we should be! 

“I also want to say a massive thank you to our sponsors and all the fans because the support I get weekend in weekend out, regardless of where I’m finishing, is absolutely phenomenal. 

“So a massive, massive thank you to everybody who’s been watching and supporting this year, it’s not been my year, however it wasn’t through lack of trying and I certainly won’t be giving up anytime soon!”

Set for another season with FHO Racing for the 2024 BSB season, despite a difficult 2023 campaign in BSB, he still enjoyed the highlight of four victories at the Isle of Man TT.