JO SHIMODA GRIT-223 250MX

JO SHIMODA | GRIT-223 | 250MX

As engines revved for practice on Saturday morning, there were many in the crowd who thought that Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda could be contending for a top-five overall as all would conclude in Colorado. Especially after rounding the first few laps of free practice, where he was exceptional and obtaining an average pace that was near the 2:20 mark. This translated to moto number one as well, where he sped to an initial placement of fourteenth as laps began, after somehow passing dozens of riders following his involvement in a first turn pile-up! Avoiding problematic inside ruts that were now causing the frames of many chassis to scrape the ground below, he would find a significant flow to the outside of multiple corners that warranted speed and velocities that many outside of the top-twenty couldn't replicate. However, the number twenty-four of RJ Hampshire would be in pursuit of his machine for the duration of numerous laps; though as they approached the halfway point, Shimoda would engage into another realm of speed that amplified by second(s). It was evident that he was pulling away, as he landed the largest tunnel/step-up jump and proceeded to shift up amongst the sweeping left-handed corner thereafter. Jo was doing anything but safeguarding the insides as they passed the twenty-minute mark, and would switch his mentality to the offensive front when pursuing the likes of Levi Kitchen and Haiden Deegan who were on the horizon. It was at that point, after the completion of lap twelve, when Shimoda had both Yamaha riders in the crosshairs - and would overtake the number forty-three, with a few laps remaining in the moto. However his lap-times would prove that he could track-down Haiden Deegan as well...and with a sense of persistence that couldn't be forged, the number thirty would do just that! Passing Deegan with just over two laps remaining, it would be Shimoda who's tremendous comeback would result in an extraordinary third-place score! For the second round of racing, his initial placement on the leaderboard would be around that of sixth; but the battle between he and Jalek Swoll was fierce, as they attempted to infiltrate the pinnacle of the running order. Hunter Lawrence had been running at a phenomenal pace, and Shimoda was doing everything in his power to replicate that; as he attacked the corner before the finish-line with rolling speed that would forego any application of the rear brake, and using his scrubbing technique atop the final obstacle as a means of stopping instead. Nevertheless, this would be one of many characteristics on this Lakewood track in which he would flourish - leading to a final five-lap sprint, where he proved that his stamina could combat the heightened elevation change. After working his way past Jordon Smith and to the rear wheel of Chance Hymas, he would be rivaled by none other than Justin Cooper in the final minutes of the moto. He was startled, but stepped-up his spend when it mattered most. And after defending his position in the running order for quite sometime ahead of the Yamaha rider, Shimoda would unfortunately tuck the front end in the corner just after the iconic "Thunder Valley" sign...leading to a loss of positions, which equated to eighth for his final moto score - yet still reached a remarkable fourth place standing, on the overall score sheet.

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