JO SHIMODA GRIT-231 250MX

JO SHIMODA | GRIT-231 | 250MX

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda was a relentless competitor throughout the 2023 outdoor series, and brought a paralleled sense of intensity to the racetrack at Ironman, as he'd done in rounds previous. The number thirty would attack the largest jumps of the raceway with fearlessness, scrubbing every obstacle in sight prior to securing fifth on the overall leaderboard - and as the field rounded the opening corner, through the tight, left-handed bend that followed, Shimoda appeared to occupy a position inside of the top-five while putting as much power to the ground as possible. Through the initial run of the monstrous uphill and downhill section, Shimoda was adamant about advancing into the top-three, and would do so with the likes of Haiden Deegan and others behind him. It was Ryder DiFrancesco who remained in the lead, but both, Shimoda and Vialle were hunting the rear wheel of the number seventy-five; and Shimoda overtook his teammate with an out-powering maneuver between the first and second corner(s), with just under ten minutes transpiring from the race clock. Now into the runner-up position, Shimoda would stalk the rear wheel of Vialle until just near the halfway point - when a brilliant move was made within the switchback section before the finish-line. Now occupying the lead, there was little that could deter Shimoda from pursuing the checkered flag. The Kawasaki rider was astounding amongst the roughened circuit, where he remained polished as the track grew rougher...and from the aforementioned eighth lap onward, it was simply Shimoda's path to victory that no-one else could deny. Claiming the win, the number thirty was ecstatic to do much the same in round two! The number thirty would have a strong start behind Ryder DiFrancesco and Levi Kitchen in the early going, but Shimoda was quick to work his way around the number forty-three...which was cemented in the section of corners before the largest elevation on the circuit. This would occur on lap four, with a strikingly quick pass made prior to launching from the initial, rolling-anthill in the section; with his sights now set on the number seventy-five. The two teammates would be running at a significant pace in terms of overall momentum, but the number thirty (after being heavily defended on behalf of Ryder) would eventually find his way forward on the sixth circuit...never looking back from that moment, onward. His gap over Justin Cooper would shorten in the final moments, but the pace of the never thirty was never rattled as he soared to the conclusion of the nineteen-moto contest...and after claiming both moto victories, Jo was certainly heading into the 2024 season with an abundance of momentum.

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