News 26 Jul 2017

Hook reunited with TSR Honda at Suzuka as Bradl replacement

EWC contender Damian Cudlin called into Team SuP Dream Honda.

Source: Supplied.

Australia’s Josh Hook has received a major boost just days out from the 40th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, called in to replace Stefan Bradl at F.C.C. TSR Honda.

Hook was second in the 2015 edition of the Japanese classic and played a starring role on that occasion after spending much of that season competing in the All-Japan series.

With Bradl unable to fly from Germany to join Dominique Aegerter – who Hook was teamed with two years ago – and Randy de Puniet, the factory-backed Honda team has called on Hook to pilot its CBR1000RR SP2.

“I’m really excited to get this call,” Hook explained. “TSR has a great history with both the All-Japan championship (JSB) and World Endurance, so I’m really looking forward to getting back to the team.

“It is a great honour to try and win Suzuka 8 Hours and I have a really strong teammate, Dominique, of course who I know well, and who I’ve been up on the podium with in 2015. I know that Randy has had a great career in GPs and he gave me a strong run at the test.

“I would like to thank Honda, F.C.C. and TSR for this wonderful opportunity and we will be a powerful team – we will fight for the victory together.”

Hook has been part of TSR Honda’s 2016/2017 Endurance World Championship campaign at Le Mans, Oschersleben and the penultimate round in Slovakia.

The team he was initially slated to line up with at Suzuka, Team SuP Dream Honda, will draft in experienced Australian international Damian Cudlin – who also has featured as a regular at TSR Honda in European rounds – alongside Shinichi Ito and Gregg Black.

Australia has a significant presence this year, including MotoGP star Jack Miller (MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO Honda), Jason O’Halloran and Jamie Stauffer (Honda DREAM RT Sakurai), Josh Brookes (Yoshimura Suzuki), Josh Waters (MotoMap Supply Suzuki), Broc Parkes (YART Yamaha Official EWC Team), Anthony West (Akeno Speed Yamaha) and Mark Aitchison (team JP DFR & RS-ITOH Kawasaki).

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