JO SHIMODA - GRIT 233 250SMX

JO SHIMODA | GRIT-233 | 250 SMX

Obtaining victory at the opening round of the SMX Playoff's, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda was an athlete who displayed exceptional speed and race-craft on the hybrid circuit in North Carolina. He aspired to carry that momentum into the Midwest as well, bringing a tremendous prowess aboard his 250F machine that was portrayed on the infield of the Chicagoland Speedway. His attitude for the moto's that followed was a direct reflection of his previously noted practice times, where the number thirty's charge to the front of the field would begin with a fifth-place registry as the first full lap of action was completed. He continuously trekked to the top of the leaderboard while periodically passing the most elite members of the field, including RJ Hampshire and Tom Vialle - with the Frenchman being overtaken in the latter stages of the race, in the final right-handed corner before the finish-line. Now third, it was as though Shimoda was finding "figurative" extra gears within his racing aptitude per se, where the number thirty was relentless while closing-in on Haiden Deegan as well! The rookie could sense that the number thirty was on a path that couldn't be derailed, and as Jo leapt through a small double-double section (prior to the longest straightaway of rollers on the track) a magnificent outside line would leave the Kawasaki rider into second with only minutes remaining...and although he was unable to truly overtake the Honda of Hunter Lawrence, Shimoda certainly put all on the field on an alert of sorts, by claiming second as the checkered flag waved. Regathering his sense of stamina, focus, and overall competitive spirit, Shimoda would unleash the abundance of power his Kawasaki engine possessed onto the Illinois raceway to inflict as much fear into the mind(s) of his opponents as possible. Flowing through the first corner and lanes of speed thereafter, he would reside directly behind Justin Cooper while seeking a way around the New York native. And upon taking a brilliant outside line in the final right-handed corner before the finish-line double, the number thirty would move forward (and around) the Yamaha native once and for all before leaping over the finish-line jump. It was then a matter of distancing himself as far as possible from the rest of the pack, which was the case, until the ninth lap was set to be completed...when Shimoda landed from the finish-line jump while looking down at his motorcycle. Upon doing this (and experiencing some sort of bike issue) the lapse in speed would allow Hunter Lawrence to work his way around. Though unfortunate, he would rebound immediately and push through the troubling circumstances to claim second as all was finalized for the moto, and claim a runner-up overall accolade as well.

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