Image: Octopi Media.

Significantly benefiting from extended rounds through the post-season, Jo Shimoda was able to carry his late Pro Motocross form into the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) playoffs and build crucial momentum ahead of his 2024 campaign.

Shimoda, 21, entered this season as a serious title threat in both Monster Energy Supercross and Pro Motocross, however, a broken collarbone sustained in the build-up to Houston ruled him out of 250SX East title contention.

The number 30 did return for the final four rounds, scoring one podium in P2 at Nashville. While Shimoda was relatively consistent outdoors and scored a moto two win at Southwick, he didn’t really come into form until the final round at Ironman, taking a commanding 1-1 scorecard on his way to a dominant overall win at the last round of the regular season.

This season’s newly-introduced post-season enabled Shimoda to extend that late form and he won playoff one in Charlotte and was right in contention for another victory in Chicagoland before a mechanical fault forced him to slow.

Nonetheless, he was in the frame come the finals at Los Angeles Coliseum and, despite making an aggressive pass to best championship rival Deegan in moto one, second overall at the final round of the season saw him end P2 in the final standings.

“I always wanted to start the season on a good note, we changed some things on the bike and, honestly, struggled to set up in the first half of the season,” said Shimoda. “If you are struggling four or five races in, it is kind of over already.

“It was nice to have these SMX rounds, everything started off right and I feel like I had good first two rounds, and had the opportunity to go for the championship at this round. I’m just stoked on everyone’s effort at the team, and proud of myself too. Next year, hopefully, I can fight from the first round.”

Shimoda is expected to depart Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki and fill the spot of Hunter Lawrence – who will step up to the 450 class next year – in Team Honda HRC’s quarter-liter charge.