Shout out to Shimoda.

If it wasn't for a mechanical rear brake loss "while Leading" moto 2 at Millville, he may have TWO overalls in a row. He's the best 250f rider on the track currently. 

Been a weird season for Jo in 2025. If it wasn't for his broken finger in SX he may have won that championship, and if it weren't for Deegan knowing how to own a bunch of the early motocross races each year, Jo would be in contention. If he was 10 points or so behind instead of 2 motos, Deegs would probably be pretty nervous right now.

Jo looked awesome yesterday and it was a thing of beauty to watch.

That would be three, actually, since he won Red Bud. He seems a mile ahead of everyone not named Deegan. Here's hoping he can finally put it together and win a 250 title next year and then maybe hop up to 450s for outdoors 2027. Gonna be tough with Davies, Kitchen, etc. getting better.

With Deegan being a bit banged up he’s for sure the defacto best rider in the class right now. Hell, I think they’re probably equal when both healthy. If Jo didn’t shit the bed Thunder Valley through Southwick he’s right on Deegan in the points. 

I believe he saw an oppurtunity that no one else would take.

Wasabi Joe is great for our sport, International rider doing great, fans love him, his Podium speechs are fun and entertaining, and love his 2nd Moto charges.

I hope he doesn’t change teams next year. I don’t know how many more years he can take “learning the new bike”. 

I like what other people are saying, though. He literally seems like the only person that doesn’t give a fuck that the guy he’s battling has “DEEGAN” on the back of his jersey. Great ride for Jo. And no, I’m not going to start calling him Wasabi because JT is trying to push a new nickname!

Joe looked smooth with it in moto 1 when he last closed within 3+ seconds. Jo will never be any faster than that. Deegs pulled him, but he got even sketchier and was abusing that engine. It'll always be cool to see Joe at his best, I just expect it to be an occasional treat lets say. Wondering if he'll be like Hampshire once on a 450. 

Was awesome to see him being aggressive at the beginning of the second moto. Rare to see him scrub and whip a little extra like that. Only other time I can think was Budds Creek '22 when he scrubbed in JCoop's face.

He actually would have won 3 in a row if not for the brake, not 2!! 

Hes on a roll. Hes won 2 out of the last 3 races with the middle one being the rear brake incident while in the lead at millville. 

Jo seems to shine a little too late each season. 

Joe's so smooth

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qnaZ9MnlhSQ?feature=share

I've been a fan since he did the minis at Monster cup. He's got great fitness and speed.  I hope he gets along with a 450 and moves up after next year. 

He might be the nicest rider out there. 

He actually had the speed at High Point and Southwick. High point he was on pace to get up to 3rd (moto 1) and 2nd (moto 2) but just crashed in both motos. Southwick we obviously saw what happened moto 2 so if not for the first turn crash he probably would’ve gone 2-2 that day. It really was just the combo of poor starts and crashes — not the speed — that hurt him in rounds 3-5.

He's raced a 450 in Japan the last 2 years in a row at after season races and crushed everyone.  Granted, not the US series level, but you can go watch the videos and see he is quite comfortable on a 450.

I actually think Jo might be sneaky good on a 450.

Except that wasn't the case this year. He came out and won A1 and then got his hand destroyed by Schock's mechanic. He came out in MX and was basically 2nd place the whole time. I bet had he not got injured in SX his confidence would have been higher coming into outdoors. I don't know if he would be able to knock Deegan off the top step for the championship but I don't this year was anything like the previous years.

I am a fan of his and his riding. No bullshit or drama. Let’s the riding do the talking.

But the amount of heritage/culture related nicknames or jokes which have been thrown out there goes to show you that you have to have thick skin out there. He seems to be standing above it and not affected. I definitely feel second hand embarrassed when hearing those. I am pretty certain not all who dish them out would take then with equal composure.

Thank you. How quickly everyone forgets his sx aeason got ruined through no fault of his own. And he still didnt quit and lined up for every race. And to be clear I've been very critical of Jo and said he was a guy who would never win a title. Hes got a real shot next year

I can see him being the most "under the radar" 450 guy in years when his time comes.......  This summer it has been RJ, as the big bike fits him VERY well outdoors......  I can truly see Jo as a true Ninja on a 450..... No pun intended.  Gotta love Jo, happy, honest, sincere.....  and a bad motherfucker when you least expect it......  Hence, Ninja.  His 450 days are gonna be truly fun to watch.

A lot of Jo's composure & humility is a result of his culture. I've been a fan since he hit the States, and have admired him for his skills on a dirt bike, but also how he carries himself...compared to "some" others.

I get what you're saying, but his Insta bio literally used to have "Sushi" in it, his old nickname... so I don't think he has any problem with it.

"He's the best 250f rider on the track currently." 

Huge Jo fan here, but I'm calling fake news on that statement.  

I respect Deegan's talent, work ethic, etc.  I'm not at all a big fan of Deegan and he's the best 250f rider on the track currently.  

They both might "Have that dog in them", but Deegan's dog has rabies.

What front tire does he have on here? 

That front looks like it has some pretty wide blocks thru it. 

someone dropped "shimoda Dragon" in a facebook comment today when they were discussing wasabee  nick name. from here on forward i'm callin him The Dragon, lol. 

I was at both of those races, and he definitely ripped. At Kinki in 2022, he got pushed really wide in the second turn of the second moto and went into a ravine next to the track. He got going about 20-ish seconds behind the last place guy, and by the 5th lap, he had something like an 8 second lead. Last year at the final round in Saitama, Jay Wilson tried to keep him honest, but Jo is so much faster than everyone who races over here that Jay really only saw him for a lap or two.

He got asked in a interview even if those nick names bothered him in any way and even he said it's funny and he doesn't mind it at all. Him even wearing those nick names as butt patches shouldn't give you a single thought of it being offensive, if he wasn't into it I doubt we would get more nick names.

Honestly reminds me of this video where a dude asks people if his outfit is offensive in any way and every non mexican says yes but all the mexicans love it. 😂