WSB: Peter Hickman set for Donington wildcard with FHO Racing BMW

Peter Hickman will make a World Superbike Championship wildcard appearance at Donington Park later this month.

Hickman will take to the track onboard his FHO Racing BMW M1000RR, with WSB-spec electronics, meaning that the outing also marks a maiden World Championship appearance for Faye Ho’s team.

It’s Hickman’s third time as a WSB wildcard having previously made appearances for Worx Suzuki in 2012, and the factory BMW team in 2019.

“I’m mega excited to get a chance to have a go at the World Superbikes. I’ve done it twice – once in 2012 with Worx Suzuki and again in 2019 with the BMW World Superbike team, but both times were last minute arrangements, jumping on bikes I had never seen before.

“This time I’ll be riding my FHO Racing BMW which I race in BSB so that will be good. We are having to work on raising the electronics package to World Superbike spec which will change things quite a lot which could be interesting, but we’ll see.

“I think it’s fantastic that we’re getting the chance to do this as a team and it’s all down to Faye – getting to do a World Superbike wildcard is pretty cool. It’ll be good for everyone in the team to get to do a World Superbike round together, we’ve all done bits here and there not as a team, so I think it’s going to be a really great thing for us all.”

Hickman enjoyed another successful Isle of Man TT outing earlier this year, taking victory in the Senior TT, Supertwin, Superstock and Superbike races. He now has nine victories at the famous road racing event.

Meanwhile, this wildcard is just the latest expansion for Faye Ho’s team. FHO Racing has a presence in Superbike, Superstock, Junior Supersport, British Talent Cup and Sidecars, as well as the roads.

Faye added: “I’m thrilled to be able to announce FHO Racing’s participation in the UK round of the FIM Superbike World Championship. We have already had a very busy 2022 but this opportunity has presented itself and as a team, we’ve jumped at it.

“The team has already demonstrated its strength in British Superbikes and on the roads, but we are always keen to push ourselves and expand into new areas where possible, so joining the WSBK grid at Donington Park was the next step.

“Peter has some experience, having taken part in this event twice before and many of the crew have worked in the series before too, so we will be arriving with some knowledge, and we are looking forward to learning more as we go.

“We will be heading into this event mainly for the experience, but we are eager to learn and continue to grow as a team and this is something I feel will benefit the whole team going forward.”

FHO Racing has two BSB race wins, both taken by Hickman at Cadwell Park last year, and has also tasted victory in the British Superstock class with Alex Olsen.

Reigning BSB champion Tarran Mackenzie will also make his WSB debut at Donington Park. Mackenzie will race a full factory WSB-spec Yamaha R1 with his title-winning McAMS Yamaha team.

Donington Park hosts the British round of the 2022 WSB season on July 15-17.