JO SHIMODA GRIT-228 250MX

JO SHIMODA | GRIT-228 | 250MX

Proving that his speed was of elite caliber at Spring Creek, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda would bring an identical flow to the racetrack at Washougal; battling amongst the toughest members of the division for qualification, and sweeping through the opening corner of moto number-one with a fury that couldn't be dismissed. His charge throughout "Horsepower Hill" alongside that of Hunter Lawrence was incredible, where he would do his best to overtake the Honda rider after beginning the trek in the seventh-place position. Shimoda was sharp within the tightest of turns on the infield, flying through the "S-Curve" that would drag the foot-pegs of all in the 250cc division; where entrenching ruts in the ground was a means of stopping, but he countered the opposing forces with even higher outputs of throttle twisting! Anytime Shimoda's rear-wheel would break loose, the Kawasaki athlete would manage to combat the swapping of the chassis with stronger velocities - indicating that he was confident in his talents amongst this hard-packed racing surface. And as laps progressed Shimoda was able to attain a sixth-place residency; passing Seth Hammaker and making brilliant charge toward the rear wheel of KTM's Max Vohland. He seemed to be a bit faster in the second-half of the raceway as the clock neared zero, but Shimoda would ultimately come-up just a bit short than when compared to his KTM opponent. Yet still, the prowess of Jo amongst this Northwestern soil would lead him to sixth, which he hoped to replicate in the latter afternoon moto. He then completed the first lap of moto-two in twelfth, while seeking to accrue as many positions as possible with the pack relatively condensed. Leaping over the flyaway step-up (just after the infield wall jump) Shimoda's attacking stance that carried him around the outside of the left-handed corner thereafter would be considered absolutely incredible. That momentum was then sustained when barreling into the wooded area, which was a repeated process that allowed him to infiltrate (and make passes) inside the top-ten. Each minute that passed, it seemed as if Shimoda was riding at a higher level - which was a notion that kept him in front of Carson Mumford and Maximus Vohland (definitively) from around the tenth circuit and onward. There was little that could stand in Shimoda's way as he trailed the rear wheel of his teammate (Seth Hammaker) over the finish-line obstacle; gathering a standing of seventh, which was coupled with a first moto score of sixth, for seventh overall respectively!

More from GRIT