After suffering a horrific training collision injury last NovemberJo Shimoda has recovered enough to compete in Round 7 of the Supermotocross World Championship at the opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross 250 East on February 21 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In the accident, two vertebrae in Shimoda’s upper back and lower neck were fractured and displaced. Honda HRC reported at the time that Shimoda’s spine was “completely uninjured.” He has full movement and feel. “
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The Honda HRC Progressive Team left some leeway to determine how Shimoda will feel heading into the race weekend; however, he said: “This event marks the first round of the 250SX East Series, which Shimoda is scheduled to compete in. The Japanese racer suffered a neck injury in the offseason but made a relatively quick recovery following surgery. Everyone at Honda is excited to welcome the 2025 SMX 250 Champion back to racing.” in press release.
Shimoda became the first Japanese rider to win a cyclocross championship last September when he won two of three Supermotocross World Championship playoff races, Including a dramatic late-season showdown with Hayden Deeganand finished third in the first round.
Shimoda finished second in the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship and fourth in last year’s 250 West race. Since taking the overall win at the Red Bud National Motocross, he has nine consecutive podium finishes heading into Arlington.