LEW 8TEN Racing has confirmed a revised approach to its 2026 season, with the team withdrawing from the remainder of the British Superbike Championship as it focuses on returning both riders and the team to full competitiveness in 2027.
Following his return to racing after injuries sustained in his 2025 Isle of Man TT accident, Peter Hickman has shown encouraging signs of progress, securing four podium finishes at this year's TT, including two second-place finishes. However, after a challenging start to the British Superbike season, as the team’s sole rider, it has been agreed that stepping away from short-circuit racing competition for the remainder of 2026 will provide the best opportunity to continue that progression and build towards a stronger return next year.
Hickman will continue to compete in selected events during 2026 on the same specification machinery he races on the roads.
Hickman said: “It’s obviously been a difficult call, but the priority is to get back to where I know I can be. The differences in bike spec at BSB makes that progression difficult to manage properly at the moment. BSB has been a huge part of my career and I’ve loved every minute of it, but sometimes you have to sit back and prioritise and that’s exactly what we are doing.
“We appreciate this won’t be the news fans wanted to hear, but our focus has to be on returning both the riders and the team to the level of competitiveness that we and our partners expect.”
Team-mate Davey Todd, who continues his prolonged recovery following significant injuries sustained in a crash at the Daytona 200 event earlier this year, will also not return to BSB competition in 2026, with his focus remaining firmly on regaining full fitness ahead of next season.
BMW Motorrad Head of Motorsport, Sven Blusch, commented: “It’s been a tough first half of the year for both Peter and Davey at 8TEN Racing and so we fully understand and support their desire to get back to full fitness.
"The British Superbike Championship is without question one of the most fiercely competitive domestic championships in the world, and one very important to us at BMW Motorrad, so we have every intention of continuing our commitment to the series, both this season, also in National Superstock, and with eyes on a renewed effort in 2027."