Autotrader JGR Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing has brought in 250SX rider Justin Hill for this weekend’s Tampa Supercross, the team announced today.

Hill, who is seventh place in the 250SX West Coast points standings will race for the team in the 450SX at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The team lost Justin Bogle when he was injured at round six of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in San Diego and has since undergone surgery.

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The defending 250SX West champion will contest select 450 Supercross races to gain valuable development time and provide 450 class experience starting this Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

Fresh from a victory at the San Diego on his Suzuki RM-Z250, Hill looks to build off the momentum as the 250 West series takes a break from the action.

“I’m ultra-psyched to have this opportunity,” said Hill in a press release. “I’ve been waiting a long time to ride the all-new Suzuki RM-Z450, and that’s what our deal entails for next year. To get my feet wet is crucial, not just for racing, but also in getting some development time logged. We’ve already made a lot of great setting choices on the bike and I’m learning a lot,” stated Hill. “It’s really easy for me to ride the bike. The great part about these 450 races is that I have my own expectations, but there isn’t any pressure. It should be fun.”

“We’re excited to have Hill on the 450,” team manager, Jeremy Albrecht, said. “He’s brimming with confidence after coming off a win before the break in the 250 West series. We’ll use these next few 450 rounds as development for 2019. We will go on a race-by-race basis, and then he will get back to riding the RM-Z250 in order to finish out the year strong.”