A superb end to the year for Superbike rookie, Josh Hook as he takes 3rd overall in the Superbike Support Category at the 2013 Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix over the weekend.
The final event on the calendar for Team Honda Racing provided no end of excitement for the team and spectators alike with some thrilling on-track battles at the front of the field, including one between the Honda team mates Hook and Jamie Stauffer.
Stauffer and Hook qualified well on Friday with Stauffer starting on the front row in P3 and Hook in P5. The Honda riders showed good pace in Superbike Race 1, but some bike setting issues proved difficult to overcome and Stauffer finished in 4th place with team mate Hook in 5th.
Race 2 told a different tale after the team made changes to the CBR1000RRs on Friday afternoon, providing Stauffer and Hook with much better feel in the bike and the difference was clear. The lap times for the top five riders were extremely fast.
Both Hook and Stauffer found themselves in a battle for 2nd place, young Hook displaying some very bold manoeuvers and the pure desire to get on the podium.
The podium was indeed where Hook found himself, taking 3rd place in Race 2 with a fastest lap time of 1:32.879 sec, just .037 sec off the fastest lap of the race. Team mate, Stauffer took 4th place right behind Hook with a fastest lap time of 1:32.870 sec. Just 1.638 sec separated 1st to 4th place and a mere .08 sec separated 2nd to 4th place as they crossed the finish line.
The third and final race in the Superbike Support Category was held on Sunday morning and once again the Honda CBR1000RR of Hook was battling for a podium position. The young rider from Taree took his second podium of the event when he crossed the finish line at the chequered flag in 3rd place with Stauffer in 5th.
Hook was extremely happy to take 3rd place overall for the Superbike Support races and enjoyed racing in front of the large international crowd.
‰ÛÏIt was great to have the opportunity to race at Phillip Island again with such a huge crowd and the atmosphere was just amazing." Hook stated. "I couldn‰Ûªt be happier to finish the MotoGP event with a 3rd overall in Superbikes and I would like to thank the team for their efforts as they always put in 100%.
"It was terrific to see so many people there to support the domestic teams and riders and particularly our sponsors who made the journey to the island to encourage us. A big thank you to Honda Australia also for the fantastic support they provide throughout the season.‰Û
