Josh Hook took just four races to score his first Superbike podium placing. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Team Honda Racing principal Paul Free says he is not surprised by the front-running form demonstrated by his Superbike rookie Josh Hook and fully expected him to be on the podium early in his maiden season aboard the 1000cc Fireblade.

Coming off a solid fifth place overall at Tasmania, Hook showed promise early in the piece at Queensland, finishing an encouraging third-fastest in first practice and backing up the result with a top five time in the second.

He went on to qualify second, and put together a tidy Superpole effort for fourth place and his first front-row start for Sunday’s races.

Hook’s 4-3 finishes across the two tight 17-lap battles cement his status as a future star of the category, believes Free.

“It [the podium result] doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Free. “I’ve said for quite a while I believe that Hooky can do that and before long he’ll be doing better than that.

“I actually thought he would be one of the only guys this weekend that would take it to [Glenn] Allerton on pace, he’s come along good, and that race there was the start of it.

“The more he gets to race with guys at that elite level, the quicker he will learn about what he requires to beat them.”

While Free was pleased with the outcome of the race, he was vocal in voicing his displeasure at the post-race podium procedure.

Hook finished the final race in third but the podium celebrations were reserved for the round rostrum, which he missed by a single place.

“I reckon it sucks,” said Free. “It could be a completely different group of three guys that finish first, second and third in the second race, and they don’t get to celebrate their result – it sucks completely.

“I thought that the way that was always done. It was disappointing for Josh not to get the chance to stand up there on his first podium as a Superbike rider.”