FINDING HIS FLOW: JO SHIMODA INTERVIEW

After finishing runner-up to Jett Lawrence last year in the 250 outdoor motocross series, big things were expected from Japan’s Jo Shimoda. On board, his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Shimoda finished 2022 strong. After missing some Supercross due to injury, Jo was expected to be battling for the outdoor championship this summer. While Shimoda had a slow start, recent Motocross rounds had seen him pick up the pace. At the final outdoor national at Ironman, Jo took the overall win with dominating back-to-back wins. We had a few minutes to get Jo’s thoughts on his race, SMX playoffs, the MXON, and the rumors that he is riding red next year.

BY JIM KIMBALL

Jo Shimoda came out on top in the last race of the year. Jo Shimoda and Haiden Deegan were the only riders to go 1-1 in motos this year.

JO, WHAT A DOMINATING DAY. I DON’T THINK YOU HAVE EVER WON BOTH MOTOS IN A DOMINATING FASHION LIKE TODAY! Never! This is the first time to go one/one in the motos. It has been awesome. I didn’t even realize it until after the motos ended; someone told me.

YOU GOT GOOD STARTS AND GOT TO THE FRONT BOTH TIMES. Today, I felt good on the bike, and naturally, the confidence came. I feel like it boosted me a little bit from the start. Having two good starts helps. 

Midway through the season the entire Pro Circuit Team found ideal bike settings and all of a sudden began starting up front. In the last few motos of the year it was the Kawasaki’s grouping together around the first turn.

PLUS, IT WAS KAWASAKI’S FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON. I didn’t realize that, but in thinking about it, you are right. I’m happy I was able to get it. 

YOUR STYLE IS SO SMOOTH, AND YOU NEVER LOOKED AS IF YOU WERE RIDING THE RAGGED EDGE. I have been riding like this for a long time. I guess that is my riding style, so you could say I have a somewhat natural style. I did a lot of work on the fundamental side when I was younger, so maybe that helped it, too.

 Coming off a third at Budds Creek, Jo carried that momentum into a win at the 2023 Ironman National.

YOU MISSED MUCH OF SUPERCROSS; WILL YOU BE READY FOR THE SMX PLAYOFFS? I will be. Any race I go to is the same mindset. I treat every single race the same way; it is important.  

WHAT DO YOU HAVE GOING ON AFTER SMX? MXON, WILL YOU DO A RACE IN JAPAN LIKE IN THE PAST? Just going to take a break. No racing. 

Some of the Pro Circuit riders struggled with injuries and settings this year, but it was something they overcame as the season progressed.

THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION THAT YOU ARE MOVING ELSEWHERE FOR 2024; WHAT CAN YOU SAY? No comment! I am sorry.

WELL, WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THIS SEASON. Thank you. I am so stoked for the team. I wanted to bring something to the table for them. They have been working hard for years.  It is nice to end the season like this. It makes me feel like I did something for them. It is all good.

 

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