Honda: Jo Shimoda to Race CRF450R in a Round of the All Japan Motocross Championship

Japan’s Team Honda HRC rider Jo Shimoda will return to racing in his home country for the first time in two years, competing on the brand-new 2025 CRF450R in the 7th round of the D.I.D All Japan Motocross Championship at Off Road Village in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, on September 28th and 29th.

This event will mark Jo's debut race on the Honda CRF450R, taking place just one weekend after the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals in Las Vegas. Shimoda is recently recovering from a collarbone break sustained at Round 9 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Unadilla. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to compete in North Carolina next weekend for Round 1 of the SMX Playoffs through the finals in Las Vegas, where he finished 2nd last year during the SMX inaugural season. He is qualified 4th in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points, leading into Charlotte.

Shimoda is Japan’s first and only rider to secure victories in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross, and SuperMotocross. Seeing Jo on the new Honda CRF450R in racing action will be good to witness!

Here is the full press release from Honda:

"TORRANCE, Calif. (August 29, 2024) – Honda Racing Corporation announced today that Team Honda HRC rider Jo Shimoda will take part in the seventh round of the D.I.D All Japan Motocross Championship, to be held at Off Road Village in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture. The event takes place on September 28 and 29, one week after completion of the SuperMotocross series. Shimoda, who finished fourth in the 2024 AMA Supercross 250SX West series and turned in three overall podium results in the AMA Pro Motocross 250 series before his collarbone injury, will compete in Japan aboard the new 2025 CRF450R. Without complications, Shimoda’s collarbone should not be an issue at that point.

The Japanese native has past experience in the JMX championship, having campaigned the Meihan round with another manufacturer in 2022, when he posted 1-1 moto finishes in the 450 class.

“I’m stoked on the opportunity to race in my home country,” Shimoda said. “The fans there show me so much support, and I want to thank them by going back to race as often as I can.”

“It’s great that Jo is going back to Japan to compete in front of his home fans, as well as our partners at Honda Motor and HRC,” said Brandon Wilson, American Honda Manager of Racing & Advertising. “The support we receive from Japan is such a vital component of our success, and opportunities like this are a great way for us to show our appreciation. Last year Trey Canard did an exceptional job at the Saitama round, giving the CR Electric Proto its race debut, and we’re confident that Jo will have a positive showing aboard the new CRF450R.”"

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