Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Shimoda Closes Out Supercross Season with Top Five

2022-05-10 17:46
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda raced to his sixth top-five of the season as the Monster Energy Supercross series closed out with its final race at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The fifth-place ride helped him secure fourth in the Western Regional 250SX Championship. Austin Forkner finished just behind his teammate in sixth and found his way into the top 10 in the Eastern Regional 250SX points standings to finish the season ninth overall.

The track was the biggest obstacle that the riders faced in Salt Lake City as it is notoriously dry and in need of a large amount of water, making the track unpredictable for each gate drop. Even with the tough conditions, Shimoda rode smart in his heat race after starting seventh, making it up to finish fourth.

In the main event, Shimoda didn’t get the start he was hoping for and was pinched out to start eighth. With the slick conditions, passing was difficult but Shimoda still managed to get by a few riders and earn fifth.
“The track was really tough tonight and it made it really hard to get by guys,” said Shimoda. “The start was key and we didn’t get what we needed to challenge for the win or the podium. It was good to find some speed near the end of the season so we can hopefully bring that into outdoors in a few weeks.”
It was a solid day for Forkner who started the night earning the east region heat race win. Like Shimoda, Forkner didn’t get the jump out of the gate like he wanted and ended up just in front of his teammate in seventh. He worked his way up to sixth where he stayed for several laps before Shimoda got by. He had moved back to seventh, but by the halfway mark he passed for sixth where he stayed for the remainder of the race.

“Passing opportunities were very hard to come by on this track,” said Forkner. “I had to wait a long time for it to happen in the heat race and I wasn’t really able to do much in the main event. It’s a bummer after getting the heat race win, but I’m just happy to be closing out supercross healthy and we can look forward to starting strong for the motocross season.”
To find out more about Pro Circuit products, visit www.procircuit.com. Don’t forget to follow the Pro Circuit race team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @pcraceteam.

250SX East/West Shootout Main Event Results - Salt Lake City

Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Pierce Brown (GasGas)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
Christian Craig (Yamaha)
Chris Blose (Honda)
Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

Christian Craig (Yamaha), 230
Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 220
Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 197
Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 162
Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 152
Vince Friese (Honda), 150
Chris Blose (GasGas), 120
Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 117
Robbie Wageman (Yamaha), 109
Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 106

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

Jett Lawrence (Honda), 192
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna), 158
Pierce Brown (GasGas), 149
Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 132
Enzo Lopes (Yamaha), 117
Jordon Smith (Honda), 116
Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 114
Jace Owen (Yamaha), 101
Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 98
Derek Drake (Suzuki), 88


About Pro Circuit
Based in Corona, Calif., Pro Circuit Products, Inc. is a leader in off-road motorcycle and ATV exhausts and aftermarket performance parts. Started in 1978, Pro Circuit is the go to shop for recreational riders and professionals for everything from suspension work to complete engine packages and everything in between.

Created by former desert racer Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit proves its products and services week-in and week-out through its tagline “We Race.” Every product that dons the Pro Circuit stamp stems from the legendary Pro Circuit race team. A staple in the professional paddock, Pro Circuit Racing has earned 31 AMA championships and more than 275 race wins in more than 30 years of competition.

Source: Next Level Sports Management

Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story