TT 2018: Hickman: 'I hated being the nearly man'

Peter Hickman has said he hated being the ‘nearly’ man at the Isle of Man TT after finally clinching his first mountain course win last week.

Hickman finished on the podium in all five races he started in 2017, but he wasn’t able to clinch that elusive TT victory. However, that all changed this year as he stormed to record breaking wins in both the Superstock and Senior TT races as well as becoming the fastest rider in history to lap the 37.73 mile course with an average speed of 135.452mph on the final lap of the Senior.

“I hate being a nearly man and so far I have always been a nearly man, so the plan was to change that this year after five podiums last year!” Hickman told MCN.

“The week got off to a difficult start with the issues in the Superbike race, but that soon turned around with the first win on Monday!

“Philip McCallen told me on the grid for the stock race it was about time I won one… and after he told me if I hadn’t won it he’d have kicked my arse. He’s been telling me for a while that I need to get my finger out as I’m fast enough to win one and I finally did it.

“Of course, the Superstock victory was special, but nothing compares to winning the Senior – that’s the one we’re all talking about when we leave the island, it’s the one you’re thinking about when you go home.”

Pick up this week’s MCN for a comprehensive, 36 page Isle of Man TT review!