Josh Hook replaced by Grillini WorldSBK
The Grillini recently made the following statement with no reference to Josh Hook’s performance or giving any reason for the separation but MCNews.com.au believes that Hook was given no advance notice of the move to replace him with South African Sheridan Morais.
Hook took up the position with Grillini WorldSBK after other options closed in the lead up to the season.
The Taree youngster had injured himself at the Phillip Island pre-season test and made his first appearance on the machine at the third round in Aragon but withdrew from the race when the pain was too bad to continue. At Imola, Dorna officials had prevented Hook from leaving pit-lane after they deemed his machine unsafe to join the race due to previous un-repaired damage.
Hook scored a single point in both races at Sepang and thus had more points than his teammate Dominic Schmitter.
The move to replace Hook has left the youngster on the lookout for a competitive ride to rejoin the 2016 WorldSBK ranks.
Josh Hook was on the podium at the coveted Suzuka 8 Hour in 2015 and contested the All Japan Superbike Championship last year after winning the opening race of the ASBK Championship at Phillip Island.
Team Grillini
From Donington Sheridan Morais will race with the Kawasaki of Team Grillini in substitution of Australian Josh Hook.
The South African has already raced the WSBK with the Team in 2014 and from Donington will be riding one of the Kawasaki of the team until the end of the championship.
Andrea Grillini
“I am very happy with the arrival of Sheridan” said Andrea Grillini “from 2014 we have remained in contact and I finally managed to bring him back in WSBK. He will substitute Josh Hook that I want to thank for the work done with the team and to whom I wish a big good luck for his future.”
Sheridan Morais
“I am happy to be back in WSBK. 2015 and 2016 have been good years for me racing in both the World Endurance championship and the MotoAmerica championship for Team Rabid Transit. As much as I am excited to join Team Grillini and again I am very thankful to both Mr Andrea Grillini as well as my MotoAmerica Team Rabid Transit and Mr Ronnie Saner for allowing and supporting this great opportunity and I will be representing both teams and championships this season.”
