Hook to race at Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

Japanese-based Aussie Josh Hook will compete in the Moto2 race at the 2015 Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island on October 18.

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Following a recommendation made by injured Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter, who rides for the Technomag Racing Interwetten team on a Kalex-framed machine, 22-year-old Hook has been given the green light to not only compete in Australia, but also Motegi on October 11 (which will be his GP debut) and Sepang on October 25.

"I was contacted by around 30 riders to fill the spot on the team," revealed Interwetten boss Fred Corminboeuf. "We absolutely wanted someone who knows these three circuits and Domi (Aegerter) suggested Josh Hook, with whom he finished in a fantastic second position in the 2015 Suzuka 8-hour."
Hook is currently competing in the 2015 All-Japan Superbike Championship on a Honda CBR1000RR, with a season-best result of fourth at Sugo — the same place he now holds in the standings. However, the highlight of the Japanese campaign has been the aforementioned second place in the 8-Hour world endurance epic alongside Aegerter, with the duo sharing the riding duties on the F.C.C TSR Honda against Yamaha's winning three-pronged attack of Katsuyuki Nakasuga and MotoGP riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith.

In a posting on social media, Hook, the 2011 Aussie 125 GP champion said: "So this is happening. A huge thanks to Domi for putting my name in the hat! Thank you to the team for bringing me on board. Hopefully I'll get a good result because I know Phillip Island and Motegi."

Hook last competed at Philip Island earlier this year, when he shared wins with Honda teammate Troy Herfoss in the opening round of the 2015 Australian Superbike Championship before he left for Japan.

The addition of Hook to the Moto2 grid at Phillip Island goes some way towards 'compensating' local fans after Queenslander Anthony West recently lost his ride with the QMMF Racing Team, replaced by reigning world No. 2 Mika Kallio.

Aegerter crashed heavily in the last GP at Aragon in Spain, fracturing vertebrae, his right wrist and ribs, and with a lung contusion also added into the mix. He will definitely sit out the three 'flyaway' rounds, and his participation at the final round in Valencia on November 8 is a wait and see proposition.