North West 200: Peter Hickman stayed at event 'through gritted teeth' after FHO withdrawal

Peter Hickman has admitted he decided to stay and race at the North West 200 "through gritted teeth" after his FHO Racing team withdrew from the event following a technical infringement.

FHO withdrew after Hickman and Josh Brookes were prevented from competing in Thursday's Superstock race because their BMW's carbon wheels were deemed illegal by the meeting's stewards.

On Friday, NW200 organisers said they were informed of the stewards' decision on Thursday and added they "deeply regretted" FHO's withdrawal.

Both Brookes and Hickman were permitted to qualify their BMW M 1000 RR machines on Tuesday and Thursday.

However, when the rest of the Superstock grid were preparing to go off on their pre-race sighting lap, Brookes told BBC Sport the team were prevented from racing due to their bikes having carbon wheels, which are not in the regulations.

Hickman then confirmed on Friday that he would ride in Saturday's Supersport and Supertwins races on his Triumph and Yamaha machines respectively.

The two-time NW200 winner insists the technical regulations for the North West should follow the Isle of Man TT's to achieve a uniform approach for the two big international road racing events.

"Yeah it's a little bit through gritted teeth to be honest," Hickman told BBC Sport NI when asked how difficult a decision it was to stay following FHO's exit.

"These rules here should be following [the Isle of Man TT]. This is two or three weeks before the TT, the rules should just be the same. We were all told the rules were the same as the TT and now they're saying they're not.

"That's where it's all kind of come from and it's just a bit sour, isn't it? But I love racing, I want to go racing."

Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes were set to ride for FHO Racing in the Superstock and Superbike classes

Hickman, who said FHO team owner Faye Ho was "nice enough" to let him to stay and race on Saturday, added he is "super disappointed" that the controversy was not avoided before the start of the event.

"It's something so simple and easy to understand if you look into it properly," added Hickman, who referred to the incident as "wheelgate".

"But politics ends up ruining everything, doesn't it? This is why they need to follow what the TT does. Whenever the TT rules are published, just copy them. Bear in mind that 90% of this grid is made up of riders who are racing at the TT."

When asked if the situation can be resolved in time for FHO to return to the North West 200, Hickman said: "That's not a question for me to answer.

"I'd certainly be disappointed if I couldn't come back to the event. But something will have to change, it can't be the same way it is right now."

The regulations, which are implemented by the MCUI Stewards of the Meeting, were approved by the sport's governing body in January 2023 and published on the North West 200's website at that stage.

But FHO Racing, who also compete in the British Superbike Championship and Isle of Man TT Races, argue that their bikes passed scrutineering on Tuesday before first practice and that carbon wheels were used by the team in 2022 and in the pre-Covid races in 2019.

The team's statement said: "This lack of confidence in the organisation renders the team's participation in this year's event impossible."

It added: "The Superstock class technical regulations mandate the machines must fully comply with conditions regarding the wheels, where Superstock machines must remain with the originally homologated wheels from the manufacturer, which from BMW are carbon.

"It then goes on to prohibit carbon material, however aftermarket wheels are also not allowed and no mandated alternative specification is prescribed.

"Having taken this issue out with the North West 200 organisers, there is no confidence that the FHO Racing riders could take part in a race with the obvious dangers, and risks that road racing presents and then the performance protested or disqualified on a technicality that is not adequately explained.

"The FHO Racing team have checked the 2023 technical regulations against those of 2022 and the regulations remain the same, where the team raced the carbon homologated wheels in both Superstock races, as well as the event in 2019.

"The FHO Racing team would like to sincerely apologise to all its sponsors and fans, and the team are now looking forward to getting back out on the roads in a few weeks' time at the Isle of Man TT Races."

The technical infringement is the latest in a number of regulation issues at the event in recent years.

In 2022, Richard Cooper lost both of his Supertwin victories after his KMR Kawasaki was found to be running an illegal fairing.

Team boss Ryan Farquhar appealed the decision and a final verdict has yet to be reached 12 months on.

• Watch: North West 200 - Saturday's racing