Josh Hook raced at the Troy Bayliss Classic over the weekend.
CEDAR PARTY’S Josh Hook was among a star studded line up at the weekend’s Pixado Troy Bayliss Classic when a crowd of more than 5000 turned out to the Old Bar track to see 23 invited guests compete in the Australia’s Triple World Superbike champion.
The talented 20 year-old pitted himself against a field of world champions and Australian title holders including the celebrated local rider, Troy Bayliss himself.
Heavy rain postponed events during the day creating tricky conditions on the 400 metre oil-based dirt track circuit.
Unfortunately Hook succumbed to the track and crashed out before finishing the main race but was pleased with his performance and pace in the earlier heats.
The crash left him with a non serious knee injury.
“I had an awesome time at the Troy Bayliss Classic... It was so good to be out racing with these legends,” he said on his Josh Hook Racing Facebook page.
“(I’m) pretty bummed on how my finals went, crashing in the first final and damaging my knee,” he said.
Hook thanked Troy Bayliss for putting on the event and said it will be the best dirt track meeting he will ever be part of.
“I was stoked to be part of such a good meeting,” he said.
2012 was a big year for the racer who has competed in the Australian Superbike Championship for Honda Team racing.
It started well with an overall win of the first round of the Australian Superbike Championship at Phillip Island.
He carried on this success with the final round of Queensland Raceway with the gun racer riding away with a win. This saw him finish the year in second place overall in the championship.
Hook also mixed it up at the Asian Road Racing Championship on a CBR250 for Honda Australia competing against riders from all over the world.
“I’m pleased with the progress we’re making,” he reflected on the year.
Left: Josh on the starting grid on Saturday. Above: Chris Vermeulen, Troy Bayliss and Josh Hook checking the track at Old Bar Circuit last weekend.