Image: MXN.

Jordan Hill will take an unfamiliar approach to the new year, the outgoing Yamalube Yamaha Racing rider opting to put his future career ahead of a transfer to the MX2 category for 2017.

As part of the factory-backed development squad, Hill finished seventh overall in the Motul MX Nationals MXD championship and eighth in the Australian Supercross Championship MX2 ranks for 2016.

Following the conclusion of last year’s Australian racing calendar, and after consulting his family, the 18-year-old made the decision to step away and focus on his chosen trade.

“Last year I slogged it out doing MX Nationals and supercross,” said Hill. “With the MX Nationals you don’t really get anything out of it and my eyes have opened up, the sport is only short and there’s no real career or future afterwards.

“I made the decision with the family to go and get a trade behind me, I met an electrician and he was kind enough to give me an apprenticeship, which I started a few weeks ago.”

The Queensland-based rider explained he did have an offer on the table with BBR Yamaha for 2017, but the decision to pick up the tools was very close to being made already at that point in time.

“Towards the end of the last year I had basically made my mind up, so I didn’t really push for anything,” he said. “I did have something lined up with BBR Yamaha, but after the AUS-X Open I made my mind up completely and committed to doing this.”

Without a bike for the first time in 14 years, Hill admits it’s a tough pill to swallow, but confirmed he will continue riding and racing local rounds once he has his own personal ride in the shed.

“I’ll still come out wherever I can, I don’t have a bike at the moment and I haven’t ridden since AUS-X Open,” he added. “It’s pretty much been my life for the last 14 years, so it is sad to give it up, but hopefully soon I can get a bike and do some fun riding and maybe a few races.”

With the Yamalube Yamaha Racing team seats both vacated for 2017 following the exit of both Hill and Mitch Evans, who moves to Serco Yamaha for 2017, the development squad will now field Cooper Pozniak and rookie Cody Dyce in the MXD category.