Image: Octopi Media.

Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda has declared there are no more excuses for the remaining 250SX West class rounds, explaining that both his hand and body feel fine as he targets the top step of the podium in the remaining races.

A clash with a pitboard during qualifying at round two in San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium left the then points leader with two broken fingers on his left hand, with the Japanese rider having braved racing with the injury since.

Following a break in competition as the 250SX East division began, Shimoda has now had enough time to heal from the injury, and is targeting race wins after a fifth-place finish in Seattle’s Lumen Field.

“I know I have a lot of work to do, but my fingers are good, and my body feels fine. No excuses – the team and I are going to keep working hard to get everything dialed in,” commented Shimoda. “We’ve got three more rounds, and I definitely want to be on the podium – honestly, I just want to win.”

Aggression-wise, Seattle was a marked improvement for the number 30, who gave current class points leader Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) all he could handle throughout the middle stages of the 250SX main event.

He currently sits fourth overall in the season standings with one victory to his name, coming at the season-opener in Anaheim, with the 250SX western region re-commencing inside Philidelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on April 12.