THE FHO Racing team aims to get its championship charges back on track this weekend as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars back into action at Thruxton.
Following a three-week break, the action returns this Friday, Saturday and Sunday as the Hampshire track plays host to Round Six.
The squad’s Superbike riders Peter Hickman and Ryan Vickers are fired-up and raring to go as they return to their FHO Racing BMW M 1000 RR machines following one-off rides in World Superbikes earlier this month.
Meanwhile, FHO Racing by Kobelco pilots Alex Olsen and Jack Nixon will be battling to make up ground in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship, with Olsen keen to emulate his success a year ago when he scored a double win, as Nixon looks forward to tackling Britain’s fastest track on 1000cc power for the first time.
Peter Hickman, Superbike:
“Thruxton is one my best circuits, it always has been since I was a kid…I guess it’s just the fast, flowing nature of the track comes really naturally to me – it’s probably about as close to a road circuit as you can get.
“It’s fast and ballsy, I’ve had some of my best results there over the years and the FHO Racing BMW should work really well there, it did last year and we’ve been making some improvements. We’ve had a tough year up to now but we’re looking at turning that around at Thruxton.
“It will be an interesting one with the heat because it’s supposed to be really, really hot which is not great for our bike and we have to use the hardest tyre here which I don’t like, but we’ll do our best. I’m looking forward to getting to the fastest track in the country so let’s see what we can do.”
Ryan Vickers, Superbike:
“I’m really looking forward to Thruxton, it’s a circuit that’s probably been one of my favourites since I first got on a Superbike. I love it and have had really good results there.
“With what we learnt at Brands Hatch and the feeling we started to get with the bike, I’m really excited to get back to the track with the team and continuing working in this way.
“I’m definitely really looking forward to it and hopefully we can get our first podium – I think that’s the objective of this weekend, let’s push on and see if we can get on the box.”
Alex Olsen, Superstock:
“I’m looking forward to the weekend and getting back to Thruxton because I love it. Last year we did the double here so I’m really keen to try and do that again.
“It’s probably one of my favourite tracks on the calendar, it’s a shame we only come here once because I really enjoy it. We’ve had a little break but now I think we’re all ready to come back and really get stuck in.
“The aim this weekend is to try and get back to our winning ways and try and get back on the top step and to try and turn this championship around. I can’t think of any better track to do that, so I’m excited to see what the weekend brings.”
Jack Nixon, Superstock:
“Thruxton is one of my more local circuits so I’m quite looking forward to it, even though it’s one I haven’t ridden too much. It’s quite a simple track but very abrasive and we’ve a few things to learn.
“We seem to have the bike in a much better place than we did at the first few rounds so that’s definitely a positive note and I’m looking forward to making more progress with the team.
“We are heading into quite an intense second half of the season with less breaks which I’m really looking forward to. I’ve been working super-hard and I just want to get going again, hope we get a bit more luck on our side and let’s get some of those results we have been working so hard for.”
Faye Ho, Team Principal:
“Once again we are returning from a break and again, everyone is really excited to be coming back together as a team and getting on with what is set to be a very busy second part of the year.
“I’m particularly excited about returning to Thruxton, which is a track which was very good to us last year in our debut season and the focus by everyone now is trying to match and hopefully build on our success last year to move even further forward.
“Peter is a huge fan of the track and it’s also one which Ryan really seems to enjoy. Alex won both his races here last year and Jack, although he still doesn’t have a lot of experience here, will undoubtedly perform very well as he has done all year.
“So far, 2022 has been a tough one for us in many areas but we are now into the second half of the year, we’re into the business end and this is the round we will be looking to reverse our fortunes. Hopefully we will have plenty to smile about on Sunday afternoon.”
