Isle of Man TT 2018 results: Peter Hickman clinches his first ever win after incredible Superstock victory

Hickman battled back from 10th to pip Michael Dunlop by just four seconds and end the Northern Irishman’s dominance of this year’s TT

(www.iomtt.com)

Peter Hickman clinched his first ever victory at the Isle of Man TT in one of the closest races ever seen as he held off Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison on the Smiths Racing BMW with not one but two RL360 Superstock lap records.

Hickman’s second lap clocked an average speed of 134.077mph, shattering Ian Hutchinson’s existing record of 133.098mph, set back in 2016, but it was his final lap of 134.403mph that carried him home to an incredible victory – just three-tenths off Harrison’s outright lap record on the Silicone Engineering Kawasaki Superbike that he set at the weekend.

This year’s TT has already proven record-breaking on many folds, with the lap record being broken – albeit unofficially – by Harrison in practice last week, before the Yorkshireman smashed it on his Superbike on Saturday afternoon, which was followed by a the Birchall brothers, Ben and Tom, lapping the course in the fastest ever time aboard a sidecar. Dunlop then set a new fastest ever Supersport lap earlier on Monday, before Hickman stunned all of those on the island by lapping at more than 134mph on his second lap – fewer than four tenths off Harrison’s outright lap record.

But it could have been very different for Hickman. The 31-year-old British Superbike regular reached Glen Helen on lap one way down the order in tenth after overshooting at Braddan Bridge and was forced to ride around the Oak Tree, forcing him to claw his way back into the fold as Dunlop and Harrison once again shot out in front.

Yet two Superstock lap records made up the advantage, and also covered a 4.2-second deficit to Dunlop in the pits, to secure his first victory at the TT in his fourth year there.

“I don’t really get emotional normally but I made such a mistake,” a tearful Hickman said after the race. “What an idiot, I was just that tiny bit late on the brakes into Braddan and we know how rubbish I am on the first lap. I had to stop, turn around and go round the tree. The first board I got said P9 and I thought ‘you numpty’, but that’s the hardest I’ve ever ridden round here.

“[The wind] caught me out on lap two over the mountain in a couple of places and really ran me into the corners, I nearly ran off at Black Hut.

“It means a lot, it does mean a lot especially on a big bike. The last lap I had so many people waving at me, it means a lot.”

Hickman smashed the superstock lap record with an average speed of 134.077mph (www.iomtt.com)

Much like the Superbike and Supersport races so far this week, Harrison shot out into an early lead which peaked on lap two at Glen Helen when he led Dunlop by more than five seconds. But while Dunlop, twice a winner this week already, started to inch his way back into the mix, Hickman was on a charge and reached the pits at the end of the lap having taken the lead at Cronk-ny-Mona, with the Burton-upon-Trent native receiving a huge ovation as he set a new Superstock lap record in the process.

The MD Racing crew managed to turn Dunlop around faster than both Hickman and Harrison to send the Northern Irishman back out in the lead, and from there on it became a two-horse race as Harrison settled into third.

Dunlop’s lead only lasted half a lap though as Hickman was back in front by the time they reached the Ramsey Hairpin, but 17-time TT winner Dunlop refused to go away and by the time they returned to the same corner the gap was just 0.146s after 125 miles of racing. Just as Dunlop looked to be poised to snatch his third consecutive victory though, Hickman pulled out all the stops to pull away over the mountain and take an incredible victory by just 4.452s, with Harrison coming home 13.603s behind Dunlop to take his second podium finish of the day and complete the rostrum.

Harrison fell away to come home in third place (www.iomtt.com)

David Johnson took his second fourth-place finish of the week on the Gulf Racing BMW, with James Hillier coming off second-best in a ding-dong battle with the Australia to finish fifth. Both Hutchinson and Gary Johnson were forced to retire, with the former once again pulling off his Honda at Governor’s Dip and the latter at Hillbury on lap two.

Result

1. Peter Hickman 1:08:49.976

2. Michael Dunlop +4.452s

3. Dean Harrison +13.603s

4. David Johnson +1:16.361mins

5. James Hillier +1:21.283mins

6. Michael Rutter +1:51.504mins

7. Martin Jessopp 2:43.830mins

8. Sam West +2:47.266mins

9. Ivan Lintin +2:49.173mins

10. Davey Todd +2:50.420mins