Image: Octopi Media.

Following the first Pro Motocross podium of his career, Jo Shimoda says that the feeling of a podium in the outdoor championship was better than Supercross.

After an up and down start to the season, Shimoda put his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki on the podium in round five at Southwick.

Shimoda found the podium in the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross season on three different occasions but said following Southwick that the feeling of a Pro Motocross rostrum was better than Supercross.

“It’s definitely a nice feeling, a podium on supercross and a podium outdoors, it feels a little different,” Shimoda explained. “Outdoors to me [feels] better, because it’s a long moto and the fast guys could catch you or if you have a good pace then you have to be super consistent and not make a mistake for 35 minutes.

“So the feeling of the podium today was for me much better than a Supercross.”

Shimoda’s season has been marred by rough starts so far this season, something he says was key in his 3-4 performance on Saturday at Southwick.

“Two good starts, for sure it was good to me. Running up with the front guys definitely makes the race a lot easier, don’t really get the roost in my face, so it was nice.

“The guys up front are a little faster for sure, but it [wasn’t so much where] I couldn’t catch up to that pace. If I’m there I feel like I can follow them.”

The series now sets it’s sights on Spring Creek in Millville, Minnesota this Saturday for round six of the championship.