Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Rider Jo Shimoda Sidelined for Opening Rounds of 250SX Eastern Regional Championship

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA – January 27, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Jo Shimoda suffered a shoulder injury in preparation for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Eastern Regional Championship. As the result of a practice crash, the No.30 Kawasaki KX™250 rider will forgo the opening rounds of the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship as he takes the necessary time to recover.

After finishing fourth overall in the 2022 250SX Western Regional Championship, Shimoda raced his way to second overall in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Throughout the summer, Shimoda established himself as a top contender in the 250 Class by securing nine overall podiums and two overall victories. Shimoda carried the momentum from his exceptional motocross season into his off-season training and was prepared to challenge for the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship. With his focus now shifted toward recovery, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider aims to return to the top step of the podium prior to the season’s conclusion.

“I’m doing my best to focus forward on my return to racing,” said Shimoda. “Our goal was to compete for the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship and I know we had been doing the right work to make that happen. Unfortunately, this crash will cause me to miss the start of the season, but I still aim to be back on the track racing for wins before the end of supercross.”

Further updates on Shimoda’s return to racing will be shared when available.

KAWASAKI CARES:

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Source: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

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Monster Energy’s Sexton wins Ironman MX National, but Monster Energy’s Tomac still has 1 pt. o/a lead

One race remains on the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship 50^th anniversary tour to decide closest championship battle in sport’s history

CORONA, CA – August 29, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – With an overall victory at Indiana’s Ironman MX National on Saturday, Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton (Honda) stayed within one point, 496-495, of Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac (Star Racing/Yamaha) in what is the closest premier class title point battle in the 50-year history of Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship racing.

In the second and decisive moto, Sexton withstood a strong charge from Tomac late in the contest and, coupled with a slight Tomac error, won the moto by 11 seconds – and the overall – with a 2-1 two-moto finish (to Tomac’s 1-2 finish).

Said Sexton on when Tomac closed in on him in the second and deciding moto: “I was like (sighs) ‘This is going to be a hard race.’ But I just kept my head down and never gave up. That’s my mentality. It’s going to be a fun weekend next weekend.”

Next weekend is the 12^th and final round of the 2022 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Fox Raceway 2, set for Sept. 2^nd in Pala, Calif. Sexton won Fox Raceway 1 back in May, sweeping both motos.

Added Tomac, who maintains the red leader’s plate heading into Pala: “Overall I’m happy with the day, happy to come out of here with the point lead still, and proud of my team. We’re going on to Pala and it’s an all-or-nothing situation now.”

In 250 class racing at the Ironman, Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) teamed a second moto victory with a come-from-behind 5^th place opening moto finish to place 2^nd overall on the day (5-1). With the effort Shimoda increased his 2^nd place overall series point lead to seven points over Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 437-430, and still has a mathematical chance of catching series point leader Jett Lawrence (Honda), who has 478 points heading into Pala.

Also noteworthy from the 250 class, the much-anticipated pro debut of Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) ended with a couple crashes for the rookie and a rough 31^st place finish (34-24). Deegan’s Monster Energy-backed teammate, Nate Thrasher (Star Racing/Yamaha), picked the team up by scoring a season-best overall 5^th place 250 class finish.

450 class podium Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac

Here’s a look at what went down at the Ironman MX National, beginning with the 450 class.

450 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac

Trouble right out of the gate for last week’s winner, Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson (Kawasaki), as the No. 3 overall series point racer crashed in the first turn and re-entered the race in dead last. … Sexton would avoid the carnage, but didn’t get a good start (12^th) – and it ended up costing him. “Not the start Sexton wanted for his battle for the championship,” said race announcer Broc Glover. … Tomac, however, would get out a few spots better (8^th) and moved up to 6^th at the end of Lap 1, with his Monster Energy-backed teammate Christian Craig (Star Racing/Yamaha) getting off the gate in 10^th place, but quickly moving up to 2^nd behind race leader Ken Roczen (Honda). … Tomac, as he has all season, put the hammer down early and passed several of the world’s top motocross racers, including multi-time champion Ryan Dungey (KTM), for 3^rd place. … Tomac would then get by Craig at the 24:50 mark, trailing race leader Roczen by 2.5 seconds. … Ripping up through the pack, Sexton, on a championship mission, put up a blistering 2:01.6 lap, catching – and passing – Dungey, and moved onto Craig for 3^rd place. … At 21:01 Sexton got by Craig, and was just four seconds back of race leaders Roczen and Tomac, thanks in part to Roczen holding off a number of Tomac passing attempts as the race neared the midway point. … Getting by Roczen at the 17:53 mark, Tomac took the race lead. Sexton would then ease past his teammate (Roczen) for 2^nd at the 15:41 mark. … After laying on the ground in the opening corner, Anderson had charged all the way up to 10^th – and would still gain spots through the moto’s finish. … Things got thrilling when, at the 13:07 mark Sexton, who was running laps two-tenths of a second faster than Tomac, cut Tomac’s lead down to 1.8 seconds. Sexton would then make a mistake and, in an effort to correct his momentum, ended up cutting the track on a hilltop section. Sexton wouldn’t gain any sort of decided advantage in the move and Tomac maintained his lead. … As race officials, team officials and the race announcers discussed if Sexton should (or shouldn’t) be penalized for cutting the track, a Tomac mistake allowed Sexton to catch up – and pass Tomac on an inside berm blitz at the 5:11 mark. … Tomac would respond and, with one minute plus two laps to go, uncorked an unbelievable 2:01.3 race-best lap that Sexton was unable to answer, and responded with a sub-par 2:05 lap of his own. “You just don’t do that (at this point in the race). I don’t know where Eli found that speed,” said Glover. … Final Moto 1 result: Tomac 1^st, Sexton 2^nd.

Said Tomac of his heroic late race lap: “I just had to dig down – and that was it.”

Added Sexton: “It’s an awesome battle between him (Tomac) and I. Hopefully we can do it again in the second moto and I can put it up on top this time.”

450 Moto 2 – Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton

Bit of cat and mouse between Tomac and Sexton on their start gate lineup selections. In 450 Moto 1 Tomac had the second gate choice (behind Sexton, who was fast qualifier) and chose to line up right next to Sexton. In Moto 2, with the second gate choice, Sexton moved away from Tomac by a number of spots. The result? Sexton pulled the holeshot and lead early in Moto 2. … Sexton’s lead would be brief as teammate Roczen grabbed the lead on Lap 1, with Tomac up to 5^th place early. … Tomac then moved into 3^rd place, past Aaron Plessinger (KTM) at the 28:10 mark, with Sexton passing Roczen for the lead less than a minute later (27:43). … Sexton opened up a 2.1 second lead on Roczen, with Tomac then getting past Roczen at the 21:58 mark – setting up what would be an epic battle for the lead – and overall Ironman MX National win. … With five seconds on Tomac, Sexton looked to be in control, only to see Tomac pull off another incredible 2:01.00 lap (the days fastest) and cut the lead down to four seconds. Sexton would have an answer this time, cracking off a 2:01.2 lap and putting his lead, depending on the area of the track, back up to near five seconds. … Nearing the moto’s 10:00 mark Tomac was onto Sexton and, when the lead had been closed to just over a second, made a mistake (cross rutting), and loses two seconds back to Sexton. … During this time Anderson had come blazing back, all the way up to 4^th, then blew by Plessinger for 3^rd. A rare penalty (reportedly accelerating while off the track) was assessed to Anderson and, at race’s end, he had to give 3^rd place back to Plessinger. … Back up front Sexton would reel off a late, second moto 2:01 lap of his own, putting 6.1 seconds between him and 2^nd place Tomac for the overall. … Joining Sexton, Tomac and Anderson in the top five would be Craig, who moved into 5^th place with a minute plus two laps to go. … At the checkers it’d be Sexton, by 11 seconds over Tomac to give Sexton the overall victory, and leading Glover to comment “He (Sexton) keeps answering the bell like a prize fighter that won’t give up. Beyond impressive.” … Both Sexton and Tomac came away from the Ironman MX National with 47 championship points, with the title to be decided this coming Saturday (Sept. 3) at Fox Raceway in Pala, Calif.

Said Sexton: “I got out front, finally (on the start). Been wanting one of those for a while. From there I just started to sprint away. Got into a lapper and made a few mistakes – and Eli closed on me.”

Added Tomac: “I made a big push right when he (Sexton) got stuck behind those lappers. Then I went a little too fast, a little too hard and got cross rutted. That was it.”

250 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Nate Thrasher

Thrasher opened the 250 racing with the holeshot and early lead, followed by a host of Monster Energy-backed racers in the top ten – Guillem Farres (Star Racing/Yamaha) in 4^th, Seth Hammaker (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) in 5^th, Cameron McAdoo (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) in 7^th, Deegan in 9^th and Justin Cooper (Star Racing/Yamaha) in 10^th. … Suffering a poor start would be Shimoda, one which would ultimately play a factor in costing him the overall Ironman MX 250 win. … With pressure from Max Vohland (KTM), Thrasher managed to still hold the Moto 1 lead through the 23:06 mark. … Charging hard from back in the pack would be Shimoda, who passed McAdoo into 8^th place, and was just three seconds back of Hunter Lawrence – with whom Shimoda was battling for 2^nd place overall in the series points. … With Thrasher impressively continuing to lead past the race’s halfway point, Cooper got past Vohland for 4^th, and onto 3^rd place RJ Hampshire (Husky). … At the 13:10 mark series point leader Jett Lawrence snatched the lead away from Thrasher, while at the same time Shimoda caught and passed Vohland for 6^th. … Several minutes later Thrasher would give up 2^nd place to Hampshire, with Shimoda, Hunter Lawrence and Cooper in a heated battle for the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th spots. … Shimoda would get past Cooper for 5^th, and was catching Hunter Lawrence for 4^th when a costly mistake put Shimoda down into the dirt. He’d remount, but would have to settle on 5^th in the moto. … Thrasher would drop one more spot, 3^rd, to Hunter Lawrence near the moto’s end.

250 Moto 2 – Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda

Incredible what a difference an incredible start makes as Shimoda took charge in Moto 2. The No. 2 overall 250 series point man grabbed the lead from holeshot-winner Cooper and charged out into the clean air, leading Thrasher (4^th), Hammaker (5^th), Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryder DiFrancesco (7^th) and McAdoo (8^th), while, unfortunately, Deegan would wind up on the ground again, this time at the start of the second moto. … With McAdoo quickly moving up to 5^th, his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Shimoda put a 3.7 second gap on 2^nd place Cooper. … Jett Lawrence would make passes on Thrasher for 4^th and Cooper for 3^rd, with his site set on catching race leader Shimoda. … As the race wound down it’d be Shimoda up against both the Lawrences, Hunter in 2^nd and Jett in 3^rd, and Shimoda would be up for the task, holding off the two Honda racers to take the Moto 2 victory, and with it 2^nd place overall on the day.

Said Shimoda: “Yeah, again, it’s the starts. First moto – not good at all. Second moto I got up front. So I dunno. (I) just kept charging and took the win. So it was really nice.”

Overall 2022 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, Points (Round 11 of 12)

450 class

Eli Tomac

1^st – Tomac

2^nd – Sexton

3^rd – Anderson

5^th – Craig

9^th – Savatgy

250 class

Jo Shimoda

2^nd – Shimoda

4^th – Cooper

7^th – Thrasher

8^th – Hammaker

10^th – Kitchen

Up Next

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, tees up the series’ final round, the Sep. 23 Fox Raceway II MX National in Pala, Calif. For more information visit www.promotocross.com

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com

Source: Monster Energy Comapny

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Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) wins a thriller at Budds Creek MX National

Wild race day as Monster Energy’s Tomac regains the o/a 450 class point lead from Monster’s Sexton; Monster’s Shimoda 2^nd @ Budds, now 2^nd o/a 250 points

CORONA, CA – August 22, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – With a strong 2-2 moto finish on Saturday at Budds Creek (Md.) MX, Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson won his second overall premier 450 class Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship event of the summer. Anderson’s victory highlighted a wild day for Monster Energy racers as overall 450 point leader Chase Sexton (Honda) crashed twice in the opening moto, which Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) won. Sexton then came back and won the second moto – only to have his (Sexton’s) point lead and coveted red leader race plate reclaimed by Tomac at day’s end with a 2^nd place 1-5 finish.

“You don’t win championships on your good days… you win them on your bad days,” said Sexton of his heroic comeback in the second moto, salvaging a 4^th place on the day (7-1).

Added Tomac: “I look at the positive… I’ve got the points lead and we’re ready to carry on.”

As it stands, with two races remaining, Tomac leads Sexton by a single point, 449-448, in one of the closer Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship 450 class title chases of all time.

And in 250 class racing, Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) was thisclose to winning his second-straight overall, but settled for 2^nd (3-1) to RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) based off one thrilling second moto race finish position. Despite that, Shimoda moved from 3^rd place to 2^nd place in the overall 250 class point chase, six points ahead of Honda’s Hunter Lawrence (396-390).

450 class podium Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson

Here’s a look at what went down at Budds Creek MX, beginning with the 450 class.

450 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac

With Honda’s Ken Roczen pulling the opening 450 moto holeshot, Sexton and Tomac were in strong positions – 5^th and 6^th, respectively – at the midpoint of the first lap. … Tomac would quick move onto Sexton, and pass the then 450 class point leader, who only moments later caught neutral in a corner, tucked the front end and went down over the bars as Tomac sped off. … “All that (Sexton’s wreck) was caused by Eli (Tomac) passing him (Sexton) on the uphill,” cited announcer, five-time MX champ James Stewart. … Tomac then moved up onto former champ Ryan Dungey (KTM) and put the YZ’s power on to the outside of a corner, confidently taking 2^nd place. … No sooner did Tomac move into 2^nd place did Sexton crash, again, this time running into fallen rider, #484 Tanner Ward’s bike, which sent Sexton sailing back over the handlebars. … With Sexton now back in an unheard of 25^th place, Tomac put the hammer down and made up 2.5 seconds on race leader Roczen. Rounding out the top ten for Monster Energy at the 24:00 mark of the opening moto were Anderson in 5^th, Christian Craig (Star Racing/Yamaha) in 6^th and Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki) in 8^th. … At the 23:21 mark Tomac would blast past Roczen with an inside move on a sweeping dual berm corner, then powering up the hill for the race lead – a lead he’d never relinquish. … Sexton, to his credit, mounted a furious charge back towards the top ten, while Anderson was making his move towards the podium, passing Aaron Plessinger (KTM) for 4^th place at the 19:47 mark. … Three seconds back of Dungey for 3^rd, Anderson continued to tame the oppressive heat and the rugged Budds Creek track, his skill and fitness level paying dividends as he got past Dungey for the podium spot in a downhill section at the 8:46 mark. … Also moving into the top ten, and all the way up to 6^th place, was defending 450 class champion Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha). … With Tomac up 10 seconds with three laps remaining, Anderson railed past Roczen for 2^nd while Sexton passed Savatgy for 8^th. … The moto’s best battle, between Monster Energy teammates Craig and Ferrandis for 5^th place, would grab the attention of the live broadcast cameras as Craig won that battle, giving Monster Energy three racers in the top five of the opening moto (1^st Tomac, 2^nd Anderson, and 5^th Craig).

Said Moto 1 winner Tomac: “What was important for me there was to make moves early, like the first five turns and the top of the uphill were where I was able to get ahead. (I) worked on lines, trying to get the flow going. It all worked out well for us and we’ll try and repeat that in the second moto.

Added Anderson: “I just want to keep progressing. But my progress has kept me in third place. So today, to get a step up and move forward to second place is nice. Lot of carnage on that first lap with people going down, but, fortunately, I was able to get through it.”

450 Moto 2 – Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton

Blasting out to the holeshot and early lead was Savatgy, with Anderson out in 4^th, Sexton moving up to 5^th early. Not in the picture was Tomac, who started outside the top ten (13^th) – but moved up to 9^th by the end of Moto 2’s opening lap. … Anderson would get past Savatgy for 3^rd at the 26:20 mark, and up onto moto leaders Roczen and Dungey. … At the 24:26 mark Sexton would get past Savatgy for 4^th, and was coming on fast towards the lead pack. … A couple minutes later Sexton would get Dungey, after which Anderson passed 2^nd place Roczen for the lead – setting up an Anderson vs. Sexton battle. … Nearing he moto’s halfway point, Sexton caught and passed Roczen, putting him 1.5 seconds back of race leader Anderson. … During this time Tomac was hustling, passing Plessinger for 6^th, though having to do so with great effort following his subpar start. … At the 14:41 mark Sexton was able to make quick work of Anderson, passing for the lead and opening up a 1.5 second gap almost immediately. … Having lost 11 points to Tomac in the opening moto, Sexton, in his effort to open his Moto 2 lead up further, crashed a third time, allowing both Anderson and Roczen to get by before re-mounting and continuing the moto. … Anderson would then stall his bike momentarily at the base of Henry Hill, allowing both Roczen and Sexton by. Sexton would then flat track his bike around a hilltop corner, find traction, and passing Roczen for the lead at the 8:58 mark. … Moments later Anderson would get past Roczen, giving Monster Energy the 1-2 positions in Moto 2. … Tomac was continuing to hustle, making up spots (and championship points) as he passed Savatgy for 5^th and was on to Dungey for 4^th. But the crafty Dungey wasn’t going to be an easy task for Tomac, and he ended up holding off Tomac for 4^th at race’s end. … With only nine seconds separating the top six racers with two laps to go, Sexton put the hammer down and increased his gap on Anderson to 2.6 seconds. And they’d finish just like that, 1-2, with Tomac placing 5^th.

Said Sexton: “Man, today was not my day. Just made too many mistakes. I knew I had to bounce back in that second moto. So if we can come back next week and ride really strong we’ll be in a good spot.”

Added Tomac: “I got a bad start and did not make the moves as early as I did in Moto 1.”

Said Anderson, in winning the overall: “Today 2+2 = 1. This was a step in the right direction. I was a little nervous, I didn’t have it in practice. But we were able to bring it around. Let’s keep it going and see if we can finish the series strong.”

250 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Guillem Farres

Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Nate Thrasher was out of the 250 Moto 1 gate fast, pulling a 4^th place start and quickly moving up to 3^rd. … No sooner did Thrasher move into podium position did his Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha teammate, Justin Cooper, get tangled up with Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna) and crashed – rejoining the race in 33^rd place. … And the bad luck continued when Thrasher went down, going from 3^rd to 15^th. … With a podium finish pretty much out of the picture for Cooper, and Thrasher having his work cut out for him to get back into the top five, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda, who won the previous week at Unadilla, N.Y., made his move into the top ten. … And as the crowd focused in on the rallying Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha racers, a #109, running the same bike graphics and race wear, was seen running up front in the top five. Spain’s Guillem Farres, a last-minute replacement rider for his Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha teammate Nick Romano, had everyone thumbing through their programs to find out who this #109 was and how is he flat out hauling in his first-ever American MX National. … At the 22:16 mark Thrasher moved back into the top ten (10^th), while Shimoda was busy tracking down Farres – pulling to within a couple seconds , then eventually passing Farres for 5^th at the 17:23 mark. … Shimoda continued to fight his way towards a possible podium finish, at one point literally jumping over the head of KTM racer Max Vohland to take 4^th place. … Shimoda then focused on 3^rd place Michael Mosiman, passing the Gas Gas racer late, only to be passed back by Mosiman in a great battle. Shimoda would pass Mosiman back one more time, railing an outside berm and making the final pass stick – through the checkers – for 3^rd place.

250 Moto 2 – Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda

Rallying back from a disappointing opening 250 moto, Cooper grabbed the holeshot in Moto 2, with Shimoda tucked in behind in 3^rd. … Shimoda would track and pass Swoll at the 27:27 mark for 2^nd place, then raced to the lead, past Cooper, to the inside of an uphill section. Cooper would then get Shimoda back, wrestling the lead away a half lap later. … The two Monster Energy-backed racers would engage in a great battle for the next couple laps, with Shimoda winning an uphill drag race and taking 1^st place back from Cooper. … At the moto’s halfway point RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna), who won the opening moto, was moving up through the pack, closing in on Cooper. … Cooper’s three-second lead on Hampshire would be cut down to just a couple bike lengths when the two reached lap traffic, with Shimoda still well out front. … The overall victory for Shimoda now rested in Cooper’s hands, and his ability to keep Hampshire out of 2^nd place (Shimoda’s 3-1 would beat Hampshire’s 1-3). … Cooper would hold off Hampshire until the 4:13 mark when the Husqvarna racer made his move, taking 2^nd – and with it the overall from Shimoda, though the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racer did move into 2^nd place overall in the 250 class standings ahead of Honda’s Hunter Lawrence.

Said Shimoda: “I got a better start in the second moto, and had a good battle with Justin (Cooper). Overall my riding was great, and moving into 2^nd place (overall) was great, too.”

Overall 2022 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, Points (Round 10 of 12)