ALPHARETTA, Georgia (November 12, 2025) – On the heels of his first major professional racing championship, Jo Shimoda has signed a new deal with the factory Honda HRC Progressive team, American Honda confirmed today. The 23-year-old turned in a breakout season in 2025, consistently fighting for wins and podium finishes, and earning the SuperMotocross 250 crown. At the same time, he enjoyed a surge in popularity, as fans came to appreciate his fluid style and endearing personality.
Born and raised in Suzuka, Japan (where Honda has several important operations), Shimoda started riding at age 4 and, after earning early success in his home country, began honing his skills during increasingly frequent international forays. He eventually landed a spot on the Honda-supported Factory Connection amateur program, which transitioned into a pro ride near the end of the 2019 season. He posted respectable results over the next two years, even earning the 2020 AMA Supercross Rookie of the Year Award. Shimoda moved to another manufacturer when the satellite team shut down following the 2021 season, but he returned to Honda’s factory team in 2024. The 2025 season saw him take a major step forward. He won the AMA Supercross 250 West opener before a fluke hand injury affected the remainder of his indoor campaign, and he finished second in AMA Pro Motocross standings, taking a pair of overall wins along the way. Then in the three-round SuperMotocross Playoffs, Shimoda took another two overall wins and wrapped up the title, becoming the first Japanese rider to win a professional AMA championship. Shimoda was also impressive while racing a CRF450RWE for the first time with Team Japan at the season-end Motocross of Nations, posting 2-6 results in his two motos.
“Since I was young, I’ve thought HRC is one of the most advanced teams in the whole motorsports industry,” Shimoda said. “To be a part of that is amazing. Where I grew up, they have the Suzuka Circuit, where Honda is all over the place—Honda Racing Corporation is right by my house! There’s a lot to it, and it means a lot to me.”
“On behalf of everyone at American Honda, Honda HRC Progressive and HRC, I’m extremely pleased to welcome Jo back for another season,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “We’re proud of the progress that Jo has made with his speed and confidence over the last couple of seasons, and he has played an important role in developing our CRF250RWE race machine. We’re excited to see what we can do next together.”
So STOKED for Jo & the year he’s had.
"For another season" was what i heard.
Not a new 2 or 3 year deal, but...for another season.
So that's a 1 year deal? What the hell happened? I thought he was in negotiations with several Japanese OEMs for multi year deals that ended up with him getting onto a 450.
I assume the Lawrence’s have a lock in the two seats. Maybe if he does well they can get some extra funding for a 3rd rider? Or he may want to be the top dog somewhere and it was his choice?
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And kawi picks marchbanks over shimoda.... kawi keeps dat chit show rolling!! 🤣
I would assume it’s a 1 plus an opt out but I don’t know. Hopefully ML can give us details.
I would be leaning towards Shimoda picked HRC over Kawi.
You think they had a choice?
Yeah, no...
Jo's contract with Honda was signed before that seat was open
I'm interested to hear why... Given that this is a one-year 250 deal.
I feel like last season was just a sample of what's to come this year.
We already knew
Smart decision - stay where he is on a bike he’s comfortable on for a year, then find his 450 home- probably will be Kawi given all other brands are pretty much spoken for unless Honda go for 3 450’s.
Alpharetta, GA? I work right down the road from the Honda facility but surprised the announcement would come from there. I didn’t think that facility had any association with MX.
Mere speculation on my part..... Let's look at this from a different angle. Not knowing Marchbanks deal, possibly it's only for 1 year as well? Jo could possibly bet on himself, in hopes of a great year, then possibly go after the 2nd seat at Kaw? PC almost got Jo back, so there are good relations there with green......
Again, mere speculation. Apologize for my post if it's all fucked up, as I broke my glasses and can't see shit!
Somone said at vegas jo had a 2+1 opt. Jo wins sx this year gets defends next year then gets a year in 450 with Honda. As long as jo wins this year or next year he will have a 3rd year wether its 250's defending or an option for 450 if he wins 2 sx titles. Honda is quite intrested in having a primer class asian racer on their bikes. HRC will have a 3 rider 450 team if jo does well or at the worst a factory 450 like Kdub and Larocco had at FC. Maybe part of phoenix racing. Look at what HRC does in moto gp with LCR to see what their doing with Jo.
I thought I heard somewhere that if Kawi signs someone else to the 450 for ‘27 instead of Marchbanks that Marchbanks worked it into his deal that he would return to PC for ‘27. That would be cool if he was able to secure something like that.
It’s a 2 year deal
Pit Row
Fuck I hope he doesn't stay on a 250 two more years and I would hope he doesn't want to either. '26 will he his 7th season on a 250. He's going to be a great 450 rider. Move up next year. Win, lose, or draw
Saw this posted online also via Pulp X account
motomind00132 : "Honda is quite interested in having a prime class Asian (well, I'll add in = Japanese ) racer on their bike"
Yup - I've written something like this often - Honda, if Jo continues to improve / do well, will keep him. They've often done so with Road Racing over many years.
The key thing is, I'm referring to Honda Japan. Honda USA is a somewhat 'separate' company, with it's own budget and approach to their marketing through racing, but you can bet your arse, Honda Japan would have the influence / decision, and the miniscule ( by the companies standards) amount of funds to keep Jo in their employ - and provide the funds to Honda USA to run a third 450 .
He's a Very fine rider, with, much more to come, that is Very well liked by a lot of US fans - and of course Internationally - and, He's Japanese. All of those points, are very much a 'thing' for Honda, as a company.
I really hope he continues to improve / do well ( and, he - or anyone else - doesn't have some f**kwit mechanic swat him with a pit board again- that is something Feld / AMA Pro need to make sure Never happens again - as it took a potential SX title away from Jo), and, he stays with Honda.
If Jo wins a 250 SX title next year, maybe Honda wants him to run the #1 in SX and move him up to a 450 outdoors. That or get another 250 guy next year if they bumped up Jo. Honda has a weak 250 line up, beside Jo and Chance the only other Honda guy I can think of in the 250 class that does decent is Cullin Park. Honda needs a stronger presence in the 250 class, or to throw more money at Phoenix Honda to sign better guys.
Yeah if he wins he would be fucking retarded not to do another year in the 250s maybe pick up another title or 2 and bank a metric shit ton of money.
These teams are going to bring back 3 rider 450 rosters again. They almost have to.
Expect Shimoda to be the next breakout rider in the 450 class. He will embarass Deegan.
Jo is the perfect Honda representative. I’d be hard-pressed to believe they’d let him go when he moves up to the 450s. Honda has made some questionable decisions in the past, but this one should be an easy call.
Yep...too many great riders riding longer, and still deserve a factory ride/
And, I doubt that Jo would've hooked with HRC again if they hadn't written in the contract that he would be given a 450 seat in 2027, no matter how the Lawrence brothers are positioned currently. Even if that was based on him winning the SX Championship 2026, I believe he has what it takes to scoop that.
I think the SMX battle with Deegan was a big boost for Jo. Imo he’d been scared to pass Deegan on the inside all year. As the season progressed he got more confident and stood strong in the SMX round.
Had no clue it was there. Apparently it’s HRC American headquarters. Edit. I think motocross headquarters. But still wild. Zero clue.
Be cool if they built a test track… 😂😂😂
Come to think of it, there are actually two Honda facilities in Alpharetta;
1 off Windward Parkway, east of 400 (Marconi drive)
1 off Haynes Bridge, west of 400
I stopped in years ago to the Windward facility out of dumb curiosity and ended up talking to Warren Reid for quite some time.
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