Josh Hook has been signed by Team Honda Racing for Australian Supersport in 2012. Image: TBG Sport/Andrew Gosling.

Team Honda Racing has announced a return to the 600 Supersport category in 2012 with last year’s Australian 125GP Champion Josh Hook joining the team aboard a Motologic-prepared CBR600RR.

The young rider from Taree in NSW has already gained valuable experience both in Australia and overseas, having competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and competing as a wildcard entry in the Australian 125cc GP in both 2010 and 2011.

“I am really looking forward to getting on the track on the Honda CBR600RR and I’m very excited to join Team Honda Racing,” Hook said. ” I know I will learn a lot working with the team as well as from Wayne [Maxwell] and Jamie [Stauffer].

“It is a pretty competitive class so it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident that we will find a good set-up for me in testing and that I will feel comfortable on the bike going into round one at Phillip Island.”

Team principle Paul Free is keen to see what the season brings for his expanding team and feels confident that the re-entry into the 600 Supersport class will be a notable one.

“This is very exciting news for Team Honda Racing,” Free said. “The Motologic-based team has not competed in the 600 Supersport class for a few years now and we are all looking forward to returning to the category with Honda this season.

” Josh shows great potential and will fit in very well with everyone in the team. He will get his first taste of the CBR600RR soon in our first official test and I am sure he will do well going into the first event.”

Looking forward to Honda’s re-entry into the Supersport class, Tony Hinton, general manager Honda Motorcycles said he was looking forward to developing rising talent.

“Honda is excited to be re-entering the Supersport class in 2012 and welcoming Josh Hook into Team Honda Racing,” Hinton added. “Honda has a strong history in Supersport racing both here and on a world championship level.

“Josh is a talented rider with fantastic potential and we look forward in helping him develop further, and to the prospect of challenging for the Australian Supersport Championship in 2012.”