Last season wasn’t a great year for BMW in Bennetts British Superbikes as the marque failed to register a single podium but 2021 looks like being a lot better with Peter Hickman not only finishing third in the second race at Oulton but challenging for the podium on the new M1000RR in all three races.

It was a dream maiden outing for the Faye Ho Racing team and had it not been for suffering with arm pump all weekend, Hickman could well have ended the weekend with a win.

Nevertheless, third, fourth and fifth made it a strong first round and leaving Oulton in third place in the points standings meant the season couldn’t have started better.

"It’s been a great weekend for myself and the team and it’s fantastic to give them their first ever podium and also claim the first podium for the M1000RR,” a delighted Hickman said afterwards.

“If we were offered those positions at the beginning of the weekend, we’d have taken them. The only downside was the arm pump which I suffered in all three races as it meant I had to ease my pace in the second half of each race.”

“It’s not a problem I’ve experienced before so it was a shame as I felt I had the pace to have been on the podium in all three races and maybe challenge for a win or two. That's the way things go, but I will work to get that sorted before the next round.”