Defending the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and contesting the inaugural MotoE World Cup will make for a busy 12 months in 2019 for bike racer Josh Hook from Old Bar.
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Hook is currently enjoying one of his rare visits home. However, he’s looking forward to next year and the challenges he’ll face.
The 25-year-old was a member of the world title winning FCC TSR Honda endurance championship side this year. He’s signed for the same team for 2019. He realises the title defence means there’ll be additional pressure.
“We’re the champions so everyone is going to want to knock us off,’’ he said.
“But we just have to stay focused.’’
Hook was always confident the team would be a contender this year.
“We were around the top three at practice and testing,’’ he said.
“The first round wasn’t so great. But from there we kept gaining momentum.’’
The campaign included a win in the world famous Le Mans 24 hour race, Hook describing this as the highlight of his career to that point. They led the championship by 10 points going into the last round, the Suzuka 8 Hour in Japan. Hook and team-mates Freddy Foray and Alan Techer completed what mcnews.com.au described as a ‘near perfect race in changeable conditions’ at Suzuka to finish in fifth place after the 196 laps and secure the championship.
“Josh Hook was entrusted with the bulk of the work throughout the race and also rode the final stint to bring home the crown for his French based-team, and he did it in fine style,’’ the report continued.
Hook said the endurance championship is a gruelling campaign. It consists of two 24 hour races and four eight hour events. Four of the races are in Europe, with Japan and Malaysia hosting the other two.
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“It takes me a week to get over the 24 hour races,’’ he explained.
“You’re tired and dehydrated. Your hands and feet are numb for a week afterwards.’’
Hook and Foray will be back for 2019 and they’ll be joined by new signing Mike Di Meglio, with the championship to get underway on April 20 at Le Mans. Hook is confident the team is well placed for the title defence.
Next year he’ll mix endurance racing with the inaugural MotoE World Cup. This is a class of racing that uses only electric motorcycles. It’ll be contested over five rounds and will be run in conjunction with the MotoGP. There’ll be 18 riders in 12 teams.
Hook and Alex De Angelis from San Marino will ride for Alma Pramac Racing. The championship will start on May 5 at Jerez in Spain.
“Dates for the MotoE and world endurance championships don’t clash,’’ Hook explained.
“So I can do both. There’s going to be a few world endurance championship riders involved.’’
He’s looking forward to a new challenge.
“And it’s a chance to ride in another world championship,’’ Hook added.
While he’s based in Europe for much of the year, Hook has built at house at Old Bar and enjoys getting home when his schedule allows. Fishing is one of his main priorities at the moment as he gets in some R and R in readiness for what will be a massive 2019.
