IoM TT 2019: Hickman forced to run Superbike BMW in Senior finale

Hickman raced a hybrid version of the Superstock S1000RR in Monday's opening SBK race, which had a SBK suspension and swingarm mounted onto the STK-spec machine.

He guided the bike to victory in that event and went on to win Thursday's three-lap STK contest in dominant fashion.

After the SBK race, Hickman said he would stick with the hybrid bike for the Senior finale as he had yet to complete any laps on the SBK after suffering a water leak issue during last Sunday's practice session.

But he topped a one-lap SBK qualifying session on Thursday morning, and was second-quickest in a second outing on Thursday evening.

After the STK race, Hickman said he was now unsure if he would run the hybrid bike after his successful SBK laps, and told Autosport that Smiths hand might be forced if the scrutineers stripped the STK engine.

A team spokesperson has now confirmed to Autosport that the STK engine was stripped on Thursday evening, which left it no time to build a hybrid, which has forced the team into running the SBK.

Hickman has not completed any flying laps on the SBK, with both of his laps on Thursday coming from a standing start.

As a result, Smiths expects him to take the opening tours of the six-lap Senior finale easy as he gets comfortable on the bike, before later mounting a charge to clinch a second-successive Senior.

Hickman has enjoyed a successful 2019 TT, with wins in the STK and SBK races complimented by a first victory in the Supersport class aboard a Triumph K2 on Thursday.