Josh Hook won’t take part in next week’s 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race due to injury.
The Australian rider, who was part of the F.C.C. TSR Honda France line-up that won the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship for Teams, was injured while preparing for the Japanese round of the EWC, which he briefly led last season.
Hook took to social media to confirm his absence from round three of EWC 2023. He wrote: “Unfortunately, I will not be competing in the FIM EWC Suzuka 8 Hours this year. After a training accident I went straight to hospital for surgery to treat a dislocated and broken clavicle, torn tendons and torn bicep.
The surgery was successful and I’m back on the mend. I’ll be ready for the Bol d’Or [season finale].
I’m very to my team, TSR, and I wish them all the best for the Suzuka 8 Hours, I wish I could be there.
Hook’s injury leaves Mike Di Meglio and Alan Techer as F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s only confirmed riders for next week’s event. While teams can field two riders only – Gregg Black and Kazuki Watanabe finished third for Yoshimura SERT Motul as a duo in 2022 – Suzuka’s intense heat and humidity means it’s often more advantageous to rely on three riders.
The 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race takes place from 4-6 August.
Photo: Honda Racing
