British BMW road racer Peter Hickman (GBR) has won the prestigious Senior TT at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. Hickman had previously won Monday’s Superstock race to claim his maiden victory on the Isle of Man. On Friday, he won the Senior TT for the Smiths Racing BMW team, thanks in part to a new lap record on the BMW S 1000 RR.
The Senior TT is contested over six laps and traditionally brings the curtain down on the Isle of Man race week. Hickman set a new record on lap four with an average speed of 134.456 mph (216.385 km/h).
However, he still found himself in second place behind Kawasaki rider Dean Harrison (GBR) until the final lap of the race. Hickman upped the pace even further on the final lap: He became the first rider ever to crack the 135-mph mark on the “Mountain Circuit”, taking victory with a new lap record and a lead of two seconds over Harrison. 135.452 mph (217.989 km/h) is the fastest average speed ever set in a road race, making Hickman officially the fastest road racer in the world.
Michael Dunlop (GBR / Tyco BMW) finished fourth in the Senior TT. Martin Jessopp (GBR / Riders Motorcycles BMW) was seventh, Jamie Coward (GBR / Team Penz13.com BMW Motorrad) was eight. Brian McCormack (GBR / Vanfleet Transport) also finished within the top-10, crossing the line in tenth. Dunlop had previously won the Superbike race last Saturday. As such, victories in all three 1000cc races at this year’s Isle of Man TT went to BMW road racers.
The TT was overshadowed by two deaths. Last Wednesday, Tyco BMW rider Dan Kneen (GBR) was killed in an accident in qualifying for the Superbike race. On Monday, Scotland’s Adam Lyon died after an accident in the 600cc Supersport race.
Peter Hickman: “What a tough race. Massive credit to Dean Harrison. He was so fast on the first two sectors, so I kept losing time there, but I knew I could eat it back over the mountain and the later part of the course. I am so happy for everyone. I can’t thank the team and the sponsors enough. Smiths Racing BMW has given me a mega bike; she’s just sweet as a nut over that second half of the circuit. I knew it was all going to come down to that last lap and I had lost a little time due to backmarkers. But what an awesome end to such an emotional TT.”
