Super Trooper Hickman rocks out with Maiden

Prior to going on stage for the performance, Bruce Dickinson wanted to try out the Trooper bike for himself.

Hicky was delighted to meet the band and show off his bike to them and he also enjoyed the show later in the evening.

Iron Maiden’s spokesman said: “It was great to have Peter Hickman and a few members of Team Hicky as our guests at Download.

“Fresh off the ferry from the Isle Of Man TT that morning, the Trooper bike caused quite a stir parked in our backstage area.

“The ZX6R has been raced at the Northwest 200 and the TT this year, but you can rely on a rock festival in June to get it wet for the first time!”

Hicky - who lives near Cadwell Park - then returned home to to prepare for the two-day British Superbike test which took place at Snetterton last week, where he had to acclimatise himself to riding on a short circuit after two weeks of racing on public roads at the TT.

“I had to get my head in gear after tearing round the Isle of Man at 200mph,” said Hicky, from Willoughby.

“But luckily I was soon back in BSB mode and was pleased with eighth overall on day one.”

Hicky heads up to Scotland for the next round of the British Superbike championship with JG Speedfit Kawasaki to Knockhill where the two races take place on Sunday.

On Friday there are two free practice sessions at 10.35am and 3.20pm with a third session on Saturday at 10am.

Qualifying is at 4.02pm and this will set the grid for the first race on Sunday.

The riders get a 15-minute warm-up prior to the first 30-lap race at 1.30pm on Sunday. The second race is due on track at 4.30pm.