Justin Hill has logged a career best moto finish when the Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team rider finished 4th in moto 1 at round nine of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Washougal, Washington.
Hill went into his home National at Washougal with high expectations. The Yoncalla, Oregon native looked impressive on the Suzuki RM-Z450, logging the second-fastest 450 qualifying time and jetting out to a second place start in the first moto. A bout of tightness held him to fourth place - tying a career-best moto finish.
Hill was eyeing his first 450 National podium and put himself in a good spot while running second in the final moto. Unfortunately, he cross-rutted landing from a jump, which sent him into a tree. The impact left Hill with a banged-up knee. He will undergo evaluation this week to determine the severity of the injury. Hill is currently ninth in the overall standings.
‰ÛÏQualifying went well and I was very comfortable on the Suzuki RM-Z450. I had a great start in the first moto, but expended too much energy trying to get around my teammate [Justin Bogle]," Hill explained.
"I was smoked by the time I was in third place. I learned quite a bit by being up front with those guys. Then, while running third in the second moto, I had a huge crash. It was a strange deal where I landed sideways in some ruts. I tried to blast out of it and straighten up the bike. By doing that I swapped even harder and flew straight into a tree.
"I‰Ûªve definitely felt better than I do right now. My left knee is swollen up almost as big as a volleyball right now. It seems that I‰Ûªm just tough enough to not get broken, but I‰Ûªm wimpy enough to get hurt every time I hit the ground," Hill concluded.
