Peter Hickman says the “big change” for the suspension maker for the 2025 British superbike season was “a step in the right direction” after the initial tests of 8ten Racing.
Following downsizing in the FHO race project, which featured Fieldman Man Island TT winners Hickman and Davie Todd in 2025, the pair formed an 8ten race with official BMW backing.
The outfit took its first official test in Navara, Spain last week, and preparations for the 2025 British Superbike Campaign began.
Hickman and Todd only rode their Superstock BMW as their superbikes weren’t ready yet, but they performed solidly on the 11th and 15th in total.
After the test, Hickman said the team was “a little closer than expected,” but he’s focusing on the benefits he’s made from the 2025 switch to K Tech Suspension.
“Well, I finished the Navarra BSB test, the first official test of the year, and it was pretty good,” Hickman began.
“We’re just riding stockers. The superbikes are pretty much ready, so the superstock bike was for us.
“So it was a really positive weekend for us, there are no crashes, this is always a bonus.
“But a lot of fast laps. It’s definitely good that we’re on track with other superbike riders. It keeps us sharp and fast too.
“I’ve also tried a lot on the K-Tech suspension. Being a K-Tech from the last decade has been a huge change and it has really helped me personally.
“It’s a step in the right direction for me and a good improvement. I really felt good on my bike.”
Scaling back crew with 8ten Racing Runs First BSB test
Last year’s Senior TT recipient, Todd revealed that 8ten Racing didn’t have a full crew in the Navarra Test.
Nevertheless, Todd believes the work that both riders have done well by identifying that their pros and cons “really rewarded during the season.”
“It was really good. It was a really positive time,” Todd added.
“I’m just riding a stock bike, I’m here without actually taking part in the mix without a superbike, giving us a lot of hope and a lot of excitement for the upcoming season.
“We both feel like we’re in a really good place, even though we’re on.
“We’re actually just here, and we’re in the top 10 (in points) for every superbike responsible for all Superbikes, not to mention the fact that everyone else has a full team there. We’re actually here, and we have a few boys to help change the wheels and bits, but we change our hands in the garage, we change our hands, we change our hands, we change our hands.
“My mechanical skills aren’t great, so it was a nervous experience.
“We did that and it’s still a place on the timesheet and we’re not necessarily looking at the timesheet.
“We just rode together and picked up a bit of each other’s pros and cons and helped each other get faster, and I think it really pays off during the season.
“It’s not just a good thing, we can’t wait to get out on our superbikes and see what we can do now.”