THE FHO Racing BMW team will be back to full strength this weekend with all four riders in action as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship returns to Oulton Park.
As the series heads to the Cheshire track for the second time this season, the squad will welcome Superstock rider Jack Nixon back from injury as Superbike rider Ryan Vickers also returns after missing most of Snetterton with concussion.
While disappointed not to have secured a Showdown spot this year, Peter Hickman is confident he can run at the front this weekend following a strong outing at Snetterton a fortnight ago where he picked up his first podium of the year – and is determined to end the final three rounds on a high.
Vickers, meanwhile, is excited to return to a track where he picked up two points finishes in just his second round with the team back in April. Now fully recovered from his Snetterton crash, he is confident he can become a consistent top 10 runner this weekend.
FHO Racing with Kobelco riders Alex Olsen and Jack Nixon are set for a busy weekend with two Pirelli National Superstock Championship races on the programme.
Olsen, who scored a second place last time out, currently sits third in the championship and just 18 points off the leader and knows this weekend could give him the prime opportunity to close in further on the title.
For Nixon, it’s a return to action after a month off to rest a collarbone injury sustained in a Cadwell Park crash in August. After a tight recovery programme, the 2021 Junior Superstock champ is ready to hit the track again.
Peter Hickman, Superbike:
“I’m looking forward to Oulton Park, it’s always been a good circuit for me in the past. We had a really good Snetterton where we were particularly strong at the end and much more on the pace so hopefully we can continue that into this weekend.
“We had some new parts to test at Snetterton and the weather really didn’t help us but it definitely showed – particularly in the last race – how much we had improved, so if we move that into Oulton, we should have another strong weekend.
“We didn’t make the Showdown which is not ideal to say the least, but we’ve still got three more rounds and nine races to prove what the FHO Racing BMW team can do – so that’s what we’re going out to do!”
Ryan Vickers, Superbike:
“Oulton Park should be good, I didn’t have a terrible round here last time, it was my second round on the bike and I was in the points so that was okay – I think we need about half a second since then to be in the ball park.
“We have made a bit of progress with the bike so it’ll be interesting to get back and put into place what we’ve learnt since. We have a few things we’ve been developing and we’ve a new part this weekend which I’m excited to try.
“I’m looking forward to getting the weekend going, hopefully the weather isn’t too bad. These last three rounds should be really good and I’m confident we can start pulling in some decent results. I’m excited to be back and hopefully we’ll have a great weekend.”
Alex Olsen, Superstock:
“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to getting back to Oulton Park. Last time we were there I was fifth which wasn’t ideal but we head back there in a much stronger position and with some really good results behind us.
“The last three rounds for me have been good, we’ve pulled back so much in the championship that it’s now wide open and I know two wins this weekend would really put us in a good place.
“We’ll go out giving it everything we can, try and put together two very strong races and just see what we can do.”
Jack Nixon, Superstock:
“I can’t wait for the weekend, I’m really looking forward to being back on the bike after missing Snetterton with a broken collarbone.
“I feel really good, I feel like my recovery has gone really well. I’ve been in the oxygen chamber and had quite a lot of physio as well so hoping that everything will feel almost back to 100 per cent.
“Oulton is a track where I have good memories, I won three races there last year and it’s one I enjoy. It’s a real riders track. We’re going to have to work hard this weekend after missing Snetterton but hopefully we can be straight back on the pace and have a good weekend.”
Faye Ho, Team Principal:
“I’m very pleased that we will have all of our riders back in action this weekend as we head to the ninth round at Oulton Park. It was strange only having two at Snetterton and we are such a strong team, we thrive on all being together so it’s going to be really nice having everyone back together.
“Last time we visited Oulton Park we had some good results and now, thanks to the progress the team has made over the last few rounds, we should be in a much stronger position to challenge at the front of the Superbike races.
“We also have a very big job to do in the Superstock class as we focus on Alex and the championship. He’s fired up and ready to come out fighting – two good results here are vital – and with Jack back in the mix too, it’s all gearing up to be a very exciting weekend.”
