The list of Aussies set to line up on the grid at next month’s Suzuka 8 Hour continues to grow. Late last week, Honda Australia confirmed its continued involvement with the Dream Honda Sakurai Team and announced that Jamie Stauffer and Josh Hook would be pairing up to tackle the marathon event.

It’s another feather in the cap of Superbike rookie Hook, who is impressing many in his maiden year aboard the 1000cc Fireblade.

We caught up with Josh to find out a little more about the announcement.

Josh Hook should be a capable contender given his start to the year on the 1000cc machine. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

You’ve known about the ride for a little while now but it was only confirmed recently. What were your initial thoughts at the time when the team approached you about the opportunity ride the Suzuka 8 Hour?

I didn’t really know what to expect because I’ve never been there before or seen the race. I’ve not had much to do with it. I think it’s going to be a good experience, for sure. We’re going over to test next week. I leave next Monday, so I’m over there for two weeks and we should get in four days of testing or so. It will be good to get a better idea of what is expected, and just how tough the race is going to be. We’ll do some race runs and should be able to get a feel for the bike. It should be really good.

You’re very much in the early stages of your career on the Fireblade, but you’ve shown you are up to the task of riding the bike. Did you ever think such an opportunity would come up in your rookie season?

I didn’t really think much about it at the start, but Sakurai Honda always approach Team Honda Racing in Australia about their Superbike riders and put out the invitation for them to come and compete in that race. That’s where they have been getting their riders from for the last few years now. This year they approached Paul [Free] and asked what riders were available this year and said they would take us. I’m really stoked about that. It’s going to be a hard one but a good one.

Hook will ride with regular teammate Jamie Stauffer aboard the Dream Sakurai Team Honda. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Jamie will be your teammate on the bike. Will it be good to go there with a rider who has raced the event before, and with the same team?

Jamie knows a fair bit about it. He knows what the race is about and he’s done it a fair few times with that team. He knows what is expected and he knows what is going on. I think having him there with me is going to be a big help, at both the race but also the first testing sessions as well.

There are a number of big names you’ll be up against but one of particular relevance to you is your former mentor, Kevin Schwantz. What will it be like going up against him in a head-to-head race?

It will be really good. It’s going to be good to see him again. I haven’t seen him in a few years now and racing with him on the same circuit at the same time is going to be pretty special. I’m pretty keen to get on track with him. He has been and still is an awesome racers and it’s going to be great to not only be there to watch him ride but ride up against him.

Thanks Josh, and good luck with the testing program next week.