Isle of Man TT crash 'wasn't my fault' - Hickman
Peter Hickman has won 14 IOM TT races to date
- Published
Peter Hickman has revealed that his high-speed crash at the Isle of Man TT, in which he suffered multiple fractures, was caused by a component failure.
The 14-time TT winner crashed at the Kerrowmoar section of the Mountain Course while taking part in a qualifying session for the event, held on closed public roads, on the evening of Friday, 30 May.
The 38-year-old was flown to Noble's Hospital on the island by Airmed helicopter after the incident, where he was treated for his injuries, before being discharged.
Hickman, who holds the absolute lap record for the 37.73-mile circuit, sustained chest, back, shoulder and facial injuries in the crash.
"I've broken my left collarbone, my left scapula and my shoulder blade down the back is in three pieces. I broke three ribs and four vertebrae in my back so not ideal," explained Hickman in a video posted on his Facebook page.
"Unfortunately, it was a component failure [which caused the crash] so it wasn't actually my fault.
"It was some bracketry that holds the exhaust in place. It didn't come loose, it broke in theory, and pushed the exhaust into the rear wheel and popped the rear tyre. That was why I crashed."
Hickman was riding his Superstock BMW machine for the 8TEN Racing team he recently formed with fellow racer Davey Todd when he crashed.
"I'm pretty battered and bruised all over the place but I just want to say a massive thanks to the medics and the marshals that looked after me at the time. They did a fantastic job.
"I don't remember much about it because I was knocked out.
"I don't remember the lap leading up to it and the first time I properly woke up, I woke up in hospital, so that was a bit of a new experience for me in my 25-year career. I've never been knocked out before."
Hickman has been a regular competitor at the TT since making his debut at the races in 2014.
"I've been going to the Isle of Man TT for 10 years and this is the first major problem that I've had," he said.