Shimoda Battles Back for Third at Weather-Shortened SMX Opener

SuperMotocross World Championship – Round 1
Strong recovery ride keeps Shimoda second in 250 standings

The opening round of the 2025 SuperMotocross Playoffs at Charlotte Motor Speedway proved to be an unusual one, with inclement weather forcing officials to call the event after only one moto per class. Despite the shortened schedule, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda delivered a gritty performance, recovering from an early crash to secure third overall in the 250 class.

Shimoda launched well from the unique split, back-to-back start and quickly advanced into second by the end of lap one. Pushing hard to challenge for the lead, he went down while attempting a pass on lap three, slipping back to 11th. Undeterred, Shimoda mounted an impressive charge through the field, passing rider after rider to climb into fourth. A post-race penalty to another competitor elevated him to third, which stood as his official overall result once the remaining motos were canceled.

The finish keeps Shimoda in second place in the 250 standings, just eight points off the leader with two playoff rounds remaining.

Looking Ahead

The SuperMotocross Playoffs resume on September 13 at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, which will award double points and offer Shimoda another chance to close the gap in the title fight.