Image: Octopi Media.

Following a spectacular heat race crash at Anaheim 3, Jo Shimoda has avoided a serious injury scare as confirmed by his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team following the event.

Shimoda entered round six off the back of his first podium of the season at Glendale’s Triple Crown, looking to build a rostrum streak after he qualified a season-best second at A3.

The 19-year-old Japanese talent was right in contention for a heat race victory, looking to make a move in the closing stages of the race on Garrett Marchbanks when he was ejected mid-air, landing hard to be assisted away on what was a bruising round for the 250SX West category.

“Jo had made some real progress building on his Glendale podium last week,” Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team manager Iain Southwell explained. “He qualified second, his best so far. It was disappointing to see him crash when he was doing so well.

“I know he was frustrated afterwards too. Fortunately, after having some scans done at the hospital there was no serious injury and, at this point, we’re confident we’ll see a fast and determined Jo back in six weeks at Seattle.”

The 250SX West championship now enters a six-week hiatus as the 250SX East season commences this coming Saturday at Minneapolis.