Image: Octopi Media.

Despite a challenging first lap in the Atlanta 250SX East main event, Jo Shimoda charged his way to a P4 finish in what was an encouraging return to the Monster Energy Supercross Championship.

After breaking his collarbone in the build-up to Houston’s 2023 eastern regional championship opener, Shimoda missed the opening six rounds of the series.

Atlanta Motor Speedway marked his comeback, and the Japanese ace posted the fourth-fastest time in qualifying, before notching a fifth-place finish in heat number two.

In the main event, Shimoda narrowly avoided the fallen Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on the opening lap, before progressively working his way forward from outside of the top 10 and closing in on third-placed Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) in the closing stages.

“I was toward the back off the start and that made my whole race very difficult,” Shimoda recalled. “I was able to race well throughout and almost got up to the podium, but I ran out of time.

“This is still a good step in the right direction as I return to racing form and look forward to the remaining Supercross rounds. It’s good for me to be back out there battling with the top guys and I would really like to get a win before the end of the season.”

Shimoda has one 250SX East victory to his credit so far, achieving the feat at Salt Lake City 1 in 2021. Three races remain in the 2023 250SX East Championship, with East Rutherford this Saturday to mark the first East/West Showdown event of the season.