Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Yamalube Yamaha Racing team manager Scott Bishop has revealed to MotoOnline.com.au that the outfit has drafted in Queensland’s Wade Hunter as a third rider for the 2017 Australian Supercross Championship.

Hunter, who’s been absent from the Motul MX Nationals this year after being a member of Serco Yamaha in 2016, will return to national-calibre racing alongside team regulars Cody Dyce and Cooper Pozniak.

Traditionally a youthful team fielding Under 19s riders in the MX Nationals, Bishop said the idea to sign Hunter is to assist in developing the younger riders who are relatively new to the discipline.

“Basically, we’ve brought in Wade to do supercross for our team in supercross 2017,” Bishop confirmed. “The idea is that we have two fairly young, green guys at supercross, and we just felt we needed someone who could be a bit of a team leader and captain.

“You know, show the guys the ropes and maybe explain things from a rider’s point of view out on the track – obviously we can sit down and point out as much as we like, but the fact we have a guy who has been there, done that, and can do quite well to be a captain to the younger guys and get them through the series as best we can was kind of the thought process behind it.”

Bishop praised the talents of Hunter, explaining he’s been quick to adapt to supercross since commencing his preparations at the beginning of last month.

“Wade is a talented supercross rider who picks things up quite quickly,” he continued. “For him, he was very quick to get back into the rhythm of supercross – he excels at supercross, it’s kind of his forte.

“From our point of view, he’s putting in off the bike and he’s enjoying the bike we’ve built for him. So far, so good – we hope to enjoy a good season with him.”

Hunter scored two podium finishes in the 2016 supercross series before an ankle injury at Melbourne’s fourth round forced him bow out of the championship.

The opening round of the 2017 Australian Supercross Championship is scheduled for 23 September, at Jimboomba in Queensland.