Hunter Yoder: The Fast Rise, Hard Fall, and Fierce Comeback

Hunter Yoder’s journey to professional motocross isn’t your typical “born with a bike in the crib” story. The 20-year-old from Temecula, California, grew up in the heart of the sport, surrounded by legends like Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, Mike Metzger, and the late Jeremy Lusk. Yet, dirt bikes weren’t a family business, and racing wasn’t the grand plan.

His dad, a welder and fabricator specializing in trophy trucks and buggies, was a desert guy. He wasn’t pushing Hunter toward motocross—he just happened to buy a little KTM 50 when Hunter was three. “It was more for him to ride around and goof off on,” Hunter recalls. “But he never pushed it on me.”

Weekends at Lake Elsinore MX turned into an accidental racing career when a stranger told his dad, “Hey, your kid’s pretty good. You should take him to Starwest.” That’s where Hunter lined up for his first-ever race—ironically, next to his now-friend and competitor, Slade Varola. The results were good enough that his dad upgraded him to a Cobra 50, and soon, they were hitting the SoCal Gold Cup Series.

Even as Hunter got more serious, racing wasn’t a guaranteed path. It was just something he loved. “When I was younger, it was the coolest thing since sliced bread,” he says. 

He wasn’t winning everything, but he was getting better—and he was all in.

Then, in a moment of pure fate, a random neighborly encounter changed everything. Jamie Ellis of Twisted Development, a man who would later become a mentor and key supporter, was walking his dogs past Hunter’s house. He saw Hunter’s dad wrenching on the bike and offered to help. That small act sparked a lifelong connection.

Hunter’s dad did everything he could to keep his son on the track. At one point, needing multiple bikes, he went to a KTM dealer hoping for some support—maybe even a “buy one, get one half off” deal. The dealership told him to kick rocks.

Fast forward to an area qualifier for Loretta Lynn’s, and fate intervened again. Early that morning, a man was struggling to fix his kid’s KTM 50. Hunter’s dad, a MacGyver-type who could fix anything, stepped in. That man was Jon-Erik Burleson, then-president of KTM North America. Later that day, Hunter won his class by 20 seconds. By Tuesday, the same dealership that had turned them away was handing over a fleet of orange bikes. Just like that, Hunter was on KTM’s Orange Brigade amateur team.

Life was changing, but it wasn’t glamorous. Hunter didn’t grow up with factory-level resources. He and his dad would sleep in a modified landscaping trailer, a “giant doghouse for humans,” as Hunter puts it. They parked near track restrooms to steal power, avoiding generator costs. Money was tight, but racing was the priority.

By the time he was 13, the balancing act became impossible. Public school wasn’t built for a rising motocross star. Missing 20 days in the first month, the principal gave an ultimatum: show up or get out. With the money from racing becoming life-changing, the choice was obvious: Hunter went all in.

As he moved to big bikes, GEICO Honda’s Factory Connection team picked him up. He spent several seasons under their wing, following the path of legends like Mike LaRocco, Kevin Windham, Eli Tomac, and Chase Sexton. The plan was simple: train, race, turn pro. But then, in 2020, the powerhouse team folded just as Yoder was about to make the jump.

With no factory ride, Hunter was left scrambling. Jamie Ellis helped with motors. Brands like Fox Racing, Factory Connection, and Renthal pitched in. But privateer life wasn’t the dream. It was survival.

Discouragement set in, but Hunter refused to let down the people who had supported him. Then, two weeks before Anaheim 1 in 2023, Julien Perrier from Partzilla PRMX called with a lifeline. Unsure of what to do, Hunter turned to Ellis for advice. “Do what’s best for you,” Ellis told him. “I’ll support you no matter what.”

Hunter finished his rookie Monster Energy AMA Supercross season 14th in the 250SX West Region standings. This year, he’s stepped it up, currently sitting 10th. The biggest question? If the dream of a factory ride and a million-dollar contract had played out, would he appreciate the sport as much as he does now?

“Yeah, I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” he says. “Every result means so much more to me.”

Next stop: Indianapolis for the East/West Showdown. No matter what happens, one thing’s for sure—Hunter Yoder knows the value of the grind.

Images: @octopi.media