Josh Hook and Team WD-40 look to Snetterton BSB
Images by Jon Jessop
With Jack Kennedy missing Knockhill whilst still recovering from his injuries sustained at Brands Hatch, Team WD-40 Superbike welcomed 23-year-old Australian Josh Hook to the team and the British Superbike Championship.
Hook had never ridden a BSB specification bike or seen any British circuits before testing at Snetterton, but he settled in to do a solid job. Throughout practice the Team WD-40 Superbike crew worked with Josh to help him learn and move forward.
Starting 25th on the grid for both races at Knockhill, Josh made good progress in the terrible weather conditions, battling with some of the established BSB stars to take 18th in the first race, just behind Stuart Easton, and 16th in the second race just missing out on the points.
Jack Kennedy will be back with the team at Snetterton this weekend, and Josh Hook will also again appear on a WD-40 Superbike for this round and is also slated to race the Thruxton round with the Brent Gladwin managed team.
Josh Hook
“Knockhill for me was a little bit difficult, we haven’t had a lot of laps on the bike and being in such a competitive championship it was always going to be that way.
“I want to thank Team WD-40 for giving me this opportunity, they are a good bunch of guys that are working extremely hard to make the bike work for me. We made a lot of progress every time we went out on track and I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable with everything.Â
“I feel like it won’t be long until we will be competitive, and am heading into Snetterton with a fresh mind after having a few more laps under our belt, and the test there a few weeks back, we will be capable of a much better job and I really look forward to that.”
Brent Gladwin, GR Motosport Managing Director
“Coming in to BSB at short notice, Josh has done a good job for the team. It is a difficult task to learn new tracks whilst getting used to a different spec’ of bike than he is used to. The BSB rules of no electronic aids, and restricted engine specs, have been put together to create very close competition, ensuring ALL the teams can compete on a level playing field.
“Our Team WD-40 Superbikes have been leading races and finishing in the top six this year. Josh, as with most new riders to the series, was shocked at how the whole grid can be split by a only second, and how hard they have to work. Undeterred he got his head down and worked very hard with his crew to improve every time out. In the races he battled with former winners and it is a shame he just missed his first BSB points.
“It will be interesting to return to Snetterton this week as Josh has already tested there and Jack returns from injury, I believe they will make a formidable team!”