Image: Foremost Media.

FIM Endurance world (EWC) champion Josh Hook will undergo surgery today on a fractured scaphoid sustained in free practice two at The Bend that ultimately ruled him out of his cameo 2022 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) appearance.

Hook fell heavily on the exit of turn 12 due to a electronics fault, attempting to ride the following morning in timed practice to no avail.

While it was expected that the Honda rider sustained such a fracture to his wrist, the injury has now been confirmed and requires surgery to ensure the best strength and movement in the future.

“It’s just a fractured scaphoid at this point in time, it’s not too bad,” Hook said to CycleOnline. “Pretty standard procedure really, they are just going to put a screw straight through it.

“It’s not fully dislodged, which is good, it’s all sitting in the right place, but obviously for strength and a full range of movement down the track, the best way to go was to pump the screw into it. That’s what they are going to do and see how it goes.

Thankfully time is on Hook’s side, as his Endurance World Championship defence with F.C.C. TSR Honda does not commence until 13-16 April next year at the Le Mans 24 Hours, which marks round one of the 2023 season.

“That’s the goal, the World Endurance Championship next year,” he added. “We have just got to try and go from there. I’ve got a couple of months off here now so it’s plenty of time for me to get back to full fitness and get it sorted. I’m not too stressed about it and this point and time, but we will have to wait and see how the surgery goes.”