Jo Shimoda Podiums at Detroit Supercross 🏆 | Honda HRC Progressive
Round 11 of AMA Supercross in Detroit presented several trials for Honda HRC Progressive, although there were positives for the team and riders to take away. Despite adversity, Jo Shimoda secured a podium finish as the 250SX East class reached its season’s midway point. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence was the fastest 450SX qualifier, won his heat race and set the fastest lap time of the main event, before a crash and subsequent visit to the mechanics’ area resulted in an 18th-place result. Although the misfortune resulted in the Australian slipping out of the points lead, he sits just four points behind the leader.
Lawrence did not get his usual stellar start in the 450SX main, but he quickly advanced from fifth place out of turn 1 to third place by lap 3. Unfortunately, while challenging Chase Sexton for second just before the halfway mark, he suffered a hard crash at the end of the whoop section. Although Lawrence remounted quickly, the fall had resulted in a bent handlebar and a jammed front brake. A stop by the mechanics’ area to remove dirt from the brake lever cost him even more time, and he finished in 18th place. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath turned in ninth-, 12th- and 14th-place results, respectively.
Shimoda launched to a strong second-place start in the 250SX East main event and ran third early on. He moved back up to second on lap 3 and then lost the position a couple of laps later, running at a good pace while managing arm pump. The Japanese rider slipped to fourth just past the halfway point, but a late-race crash by Coty Schock opened the door for Shimoda to secure a podium finish. He remains third in the standings, 14 points behind the leading Cole Davies. Additional Red Rider highlights included a strong ride from Luke Neese, who finished inside the top 10, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Evan Ferry delivered a career-best performance with an 11th-place result.
