The Isle of Man Is Unbelievable

AKA THE PETER HICKMAN SHOW AKA THE PETER HICKMAN SHOW

The last time this majestic race took place was in June of 2019. Covid -19 had closed the borders to the worlds countries and millions of people suffered and died. I feel selfish writing about the TT, but it was my light at the end of the tunnel, knowing someday I would be back on the rock called the Isle of Man with my best friends, to celebrate our survival and to witness one more time, The Greatest Show on Earth.

37.5 Miles is just one lap of the Isle of Man circuit. To navigate the turns, the dips in the road, the walls, curbs and buildings at speeds approaching 200 mph…just one lap, you have accomplished something that 99.99% of the world will never do. Everyone that comes here knows the dangers of this course and it has taken many lives over its history. Prayers go out to the 5 souls who started the race this year but didn’t come home.

There is so much going on at the TT I just don’t know where to begin. It would be the 100th start for John Mcguiness who has been a fan favorite since I can remember. Michael Dunlop was in top shape and itching for a win. Dean Harrison, the 2019 Senior TT winner was looking strong, but it was Peter Hickman who would have everyones attention for the entire race week and that is why I am calling it “ The Peter Hickman Show”.

Peter came on the TT scene in 2014 and got his first win in 2018…actually 2 wins that year. 2019 rolled around and he left the Isle of Man with 3 wins. He had the momentum going for him but the wind was blown out of his sails as Covid-19 took over in 2020. 3 years would go by before he stepped foot on the Isle of Man again, but he was ready.

I had a chance of a life time during the week to take a lap of the course with Peter Hickman on a bus as he gave us a blow by blow of how you get around the circuit and win a race. My big question was “ How do you practice for this race?”

“Good question”’ Peter said. “The first year I raced I came over to the Isle of Man a few times and hired a car. I drove the course at least 70 times trying to pick out markers for braking, looking for the apex in corners and anything that would help me come race week. I played a lot of the Play Station TT gams which actually really helped me with visualizing the circuit.” I believe it takes a few years to get it right, too many riders come over with high hopes and don’t prepare properly. Winning is not going to happen overnight”

2022 2022

PHOTOS & WORDS BY SCOTT AND CARLA ODELL

“The banter went on until we finished a lap of the circuit, we were all spellbound of this experience. he had me when he said “Hi, Im Peter Hickman”.

As we took off from the starting line down Glencrutchery Road towards Bray Hill, Peter exclaimed “ The first lap gets your attention, the bike is heavy from a full tank of fuel, you have fresh tires and you are wringing the bike out at 180 mph as you get to bottom of Bray Hill and you go airborne momentarily as you hit the crossroad. Keep the throttle pegged as it will keep the bike in the proper attitude.

He has memorized every wall, building curb and tree on the course and this what gets the results he needs to win a race. “You have to know where you are on the circuit at all times”, Hickman said. The banter went on until we finished a lap of the circuit, we were all spellbound of this experience. he had me when he said “ Hi, Im Peter Hickman”.

Racing on the Isle of Man takes a lot of preparation, a lot of people , time away from home and..a lot of money. FHO Racing would be the team supporting Peter Hickman with Faye Ho team principal at the helm. Sponsorship money is what keeps the wheels turning and Richard Rawlings of Gas Monkey Garage stepped up in a big way as he always does. Probably the wildest graphics you will ever see on a machine on the TT course. Mr. Hickman was ready to take on the ISLE OF MAN TT !

The opening race of the week was the 6 lap Superbike race and guess who won that one? Dean Harrison would come in 2nd and Michael Dunlop in 3rd but the gauntlet has has been thrown down and the world was about to witness the Peter Hickman show.

With a day off , Mondays Supersport race would go to Michael

Dunlop with Hickman finishing 3rd. The Superstock race was next up and Peter would be back in form with a win over Connor Cummins, a native of the Isle of Man.

It would be the Supertwin race on Wednesday with another win and almost by 2 minutes of his closest competitor.

Friday would be set up for the 2nd Supersport race and the 6 Lap Milwaukee Senior TT race, the one everybody wants to win and get into the history books.

Like the first Supersport race Michael Dunlop took home the victory, but Peter stayed in touch with him and came in 2nd place, not what he wanted. The weather came in and racing was halted. The senior race would take place on Saturday as the main event.

I could give you a lap by lap, but after 1 hour and 45 minutes it would be Peter Hickman and the FHO Gas Monkey Garage BMW 1000RR crossing the finish line first and receiving congratulations by his thousands of fans from around the world ! Michael Dunlop would leave the island with 2 more victories and give him a total of 20 wins making him the 3rd rider to break into the 20 win category right behind his uncle Joey Dunlop and legend John McGuiness. The sidecars had a very cruel week, not being able to finish a full race due to incidents and the loss of life in both races. The Birchall brothers could not be caught and it will be bittersweet for them as well as all of the other sidecar racers. 3 years of waiting to come back to the Isle of Man with all the hopes in the world…

I keep coming back whenever possible, share memories with my friends and talk about life and have a few pints together. The TT has become a love/hate event because not everyone gets to come back as I do.

Mark Purslow, Cesar Chanel, Davy Morgan, Roger Stockton, Bradley Stockton

Thank you for the time you were here entertaining us with with your racing bravery, you will always be honored and missed.