DUDE DERAILED: JUSTIN HILL

Justin Hill says he “probably has it better than everybody in the field” and appreciates his job more than ever before. The often outspoken 30-year-old also shares his views about race bike set-up, team dynamics, and his supercross speed compared with his rivals.

Three rounds into the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, Team Tedder Racing’s Justin Hill stands 14^th in the overall 450SX point standings. Posting up remarkably consistent results on his KTM 450SX-F with 14, 14 and 15 Main Event results at Anaheim 1, San Diego and Anaheim 2, respectively, Hill has been in the mix and displaying world-class supercross speed all along the way. A veteran racer who launched his career back in 2013, the initial phase of the 2026 season has been quite promising for the rider straight out of Yoncalla, Oregon. The 77,220-seat NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, will play host to Hill and the entire AMA Supercross contingent this Saturday night, and Justin Hill will be ready; having designs on yet another top-15 finishing position. This week, Hill took a quick break from testing and training to catch up with us.

Looking over at his Team Tedder Racing KTM 450SX-F, Hill talked about the Riverside County California town of Temecula, and his home base during the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

“This year, Dakota got us a little apartment down here in Temecula,” explained Hill. “In the past when I came down here, I literally dragged my camper down and stayed here. I’ve always liked Temecula. He got us a spot right here in Temecula. We’re just kind of hanging. We ride over here at KTM quite a bit. I’ll ride Pala a lot. The primary gym I use is ICON with Charles Dao and I train over here in Temecula. It’s kind of our hub. We like it. The wife has her favourite coffee shop and the whole deal. It’s a good little spot. I don’t really miss the Pacific Northwest that much. I definitely miss my place. I miss the mountains. I mean, I feel like we go out to Washington and Oregon quite a bit throughout the year. Gosh, I just never feel like I’m home. There is so much going on throughout the year. I expect to spend a lot more time at home this year just because we plan to do the Outdoors. Dude, my place in Wyoming and training at 6000 feet … it’s going to be really, really solid for Outdoor conditioning.”

Three rounds into the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, Hill has posted up remarkably consistent 14, 14 and 15 Main Event results at Anaheim I, San Diego and Anaheim 2, respectively. But how does that sit with him?

“Oh man, it’s SO far away from where I want to be, Eric,” mused Hill. “It’s fine because you get dealt monkey wrenches in the sport so much. It’s just the most volatile things that a guy can be doing for a living. I dealt myself a pretty goofy hand at A1. It’s kind of a long-winded way to explain a crash, but basically I crashed and blew my radiator cap off the bike. I got soaking wet. My whole bottom half I was just soaking wet from the antifreeze. I have coolant all over me and I get to my mechanic, and he got it all patched up. I was soaking and couldn’t grip the bike that well. I go out there and try and send it for one lap and crash hard. Dude, I separated the cartilage in my ribs. So, that’s just what I’ve been battling. It’s been one of the more mentally testing injuries for me because I can walk around, I can show up for these race weekends and get through it. Pain-wise, I can make it through the day, but every single thing I hit just f@#king hurts. Every single thing I do just costs so much mental and physical energy.

“I crashed and blew my radiator cap off. I got soaking wet from the antifreeze and couldn’t grip the bike. I go out there and try and send it for one lap and crash hard. And I separated the cartilage in my ribs!”

On top of that, every single time I ride, I make it worse. It’s just management. It’s more mentally challenging than anything. Between Anaheim 1 and San Diego and between San Diego and Anaheim 2, I was unable to ride. I didn’t ride one time. I was able to sit on a bike and sit in the hyperbaric chamber and do the rehabilitating-type things. However, I was able to ride a bike. I was unable to look at one. Putting all of that in perspective, I’m actually proud of where I’m at. God, it’s been extremely frustrating. I couldn’t think of a more ridiculous way to be derailed, but still being able to show up and ride. So, I’m extremely derailed. Dude, it’s just what it is. Like, today was the first day I was able to practice. Now I’m like, ‘I got a short day in today. I’m just kind of testing everything’. I was seeing how I felt and we’re okay and we’re going to ride again tomorrow.

“We actually have some parts from the factory team that we’re going to test. Those guys are awesome and excited to help us. We’re going to test tomorrow. We’re going to be able to ride at press day at Houston. Things are looking up. I’m going to have so much more seat time. I mean my brother, Josh, has said this to me over the year. He said, ‘The only guys that go out there and race when they’re hurt are dumb enough to think they’re better’. And he’s right. That’s kind of my mental game. When I get into a position of confidence, it’s real. It’s a real confidence, you know? I know that’s coming. The way I felt leading into Anaheim 1 and before that silly crash; it was probably the best month on a motorcycle that I can remember ever having. I felt SO good. It’s right there. We have a great bike set-up. You know how it is with these Tedder guys. They’re never going to put you on crummy stuff. The Tedder Racing program is awesome.”

You’ve spoken lately that you feel more prepared than ever before. In what sense?

“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the way I see it is that I look at the bike more than anything. If you’re in a good place with the motorcycle and you feel comfortable; to me, if that’s in line there is no other thing in your way. I feel like we have that. This year I feel like our bike is that good. It’s a matter of not making stupid rookie mistakes, like trying to send it. I was super-excited. I was so pumped, and I was so excited coming into the first Anaheim that I just made a bunch of 19-year-old mistakes. It was kind of crazy.

“I also work with J. Whipple a lot, just on the bike stuff,” continued Hill. “He’s fantastic at technical things and with technique on the bike. I work with him quite a bit. He’s a buddy. Before Anaheim, I was like, dude, this is weird. I’m 30 years old and I have those butterflies I used to have before the season when I was young.’ He was like, ‘I like to hear that.’ I said, ‘I think it’s good, too. It’s like I really care!’ It was really cool. I know I’ll get it all right back as soon as I’m at 100 percent.”

As a member of Team Tedder Racing, Justin Hill is in a privateer position of having to go head-to-head with the Japanese and Austrian factory teams that rule the sport. So, what’s that reality like?

“That’s hard for me to explain from a position of fighting teams as an entity,” explained the former 250SX race-winning rider. “I feel like I’m just fighting each rider I race against. I’m trying to be better than them. Yeah, of course there are days where you see somebody that has the set-up and does have all the stuff going for them and you aways want to beat them. You want to beat the guy that is on a better seat. I don’t look at it that way, dude. I just don’t think my seat is worse than everybody’s. I probably have it better than everybody out in the field. I really love my job. My crew I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’ve said that all along. This is my fourth year with these guys. I’m going to retire with these guys. I don’t really plan on going anywhere. Something crazy needs to happen or would have to happen to get me to leave. I really enjoy my job. I don’t look at it like, ‘I’m fighting the OEMs.’ I’ve got A LOT of help from KTM. They try to get me whatever they can. Yeah, I’m in a great situation because I can test those parts when they give us stuff to try. But then I have the option of whether I liked it or I didn’t like it. Everything on my motorcycle is what I chose. I really like that. People’s preferences can differ so much. So, it’s kind of a cool spot I’m in.”

Hill went on to explain his Team Tedder ride and position when held up to the light and compared to the factory team riders and riders he battles with every Saturday night.

“It’s very different because we don’t do a lot inhouse,” he pointed out. “So that’s kind of the difference. When you get on one of these OEM teams, you have the motherships back in Japan that can make you any part that can do anything. If you’re on KTM, you have Austria. You’ve got these motherships that can be like, ‘We need this major part for the head. Can you make it?’ We’re not in that position, but we’re in a position where whatever is to market, we have the option to try. There are disadvantages and advantages. Our advantage is the feel of our team. We are just doing the best we can. Everybody involved with my set-up, we’re buddies and we just enjoy it.

“My main issue with the current state of the sport is how little all the jumps are. There is no lift. I’m looking forward to riding a track like at Glendale.”

“The Tedders go way back in this sport as a family racing group, just like me and my family do. I’ve never been so eye-to-eye with a group. They treat me like I’m one of the brothers. They really do. They treat the Hill brothers like they are Tedders. There is nothing cooler than when somebody actually cares for your wellbeing and who is overseeing your day-to-day program. I can tell you right now that there are a lot of organisations that you could ride for that don’t feel the same way. It’s a great feeling. I can trust my people – especially and in particular my mechanic, Jesse O’Brien. That guy is a straight ace in the hole. He sort of worked his way into us realising how awesome he was. I try not to talk about him too much, probably because I don’t want to lose him. If people knew what kind of employee he was, there would be a bidding war for him. He has all the things that I don’t have.”

Next up for Justin Hill will be NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, and Round 4 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Immediately following will come the Phoenix, Seattle, Dallas and Daytona rounds. So, how does he see those rounds playing out?

“I’m excited about Houston. Obviously, it’s going to be just a little different with the Triple Crown format, meaning no free practice. This is going to be bonkers, dude. You get no free practice. You have two qualifiers. Those two qualifiers are your final gate pick for the Main Events. So, qualifying is just going to be bonkers. I’m looking forward to it. I like Texas, dude. Phoenix, I’m a huge fan of because the floor is so big. They make big jumps. My main issue with the current state of the sport is how little all the jumps are. There is no lift. I’m looking forward to riding a track like at Glendale.”

And, last up, what does Hill make of the competition around him?

“It’s a little bit weird right now. There is just this kind of vibe where I don’t feel like anybody is a crazy standout – other than Eli Tomac and his switch, that is. It’s amazing how gnarly he is. Chase Sexton is always so fast. There is no taking the speed out of the guy. I’m impressed with Hunter Lawrence, for sure. Kenny Roczen’s always awesome. When I get into a position where I’m pushing, I’m about the same speed as they guys who I want to be up there beating. At Anaheim 1, I gauged the top three guys and I just stayed in the same exact spot with them virtually the whole main. They’re not going faster than me; I just suck at starting these races. That’s the way I’m looking at it right now.”