At the 12th and final round of the 2022 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda claimed his fifth moto win of the season in the final moto of the year. After a Monster Energy AMA Supercross subpar season to his standards, Shimoda raised the bar this summer in Pro Motocross, claiming not only overall podiums, but moto wins and the first two overall wins of his career as well. While battling for second in the first moto and second in the 250 Class points standings, Hunter Lawrence made an aggressive move on Shimoda late in the race to take the spot. Despite being friends with the Lawrence brothers, Shimoda was not pumped with the move his buddy pulled on him.
However, Shimoda finished 4-1 to claim second overall on the day and second in the points. After the race, our Kellen Brauer caught up to Shimoda to get his take on that takeout move and his summer as a whole.
Racer X: Okay Jo Shimoda, last race of the year, you win the last moto of the year and had a great stretch down the end. What do you think about the whole year for you?
Shimoda: Umm the whole year? Supercross was a little disappointing, I was kind of struggling the whole year. But outdoors we came back with some strong results so… And days like today, taking the second moto with a nice big gap… so yeah super pumped.
Talk us through the first moto situation with Hunter [Lawrence]. Did you know he was coming down the inside? And how surprised were you when he hit you?
It's kind of hard to tell because it's downhill so you let off the bike [throttle], right? But to be honest I think, I am not happy with it because if he would have made the inside rut fine, it's a clean pass. But he jumped off the ruts too, so I wasn’t really sure what he wanted to do. I ended up going over the bars, hurt my shoulder, and we could have both go down. So, a little disappointed yeah.
Hunter Lawrence's move on Jo Shimoda:
How was the heat for you today?
The first moto was really hot but the second moto it cooled down a lot, so it was not bad.
Fitness wise you were all good with it?
[Laughs] I’m fine yeah.
![Jo Shimoda]()
Jo Shimoda Align Media ![Shimoda claiming the checkered flag in the final 250 Class moto of the year.]()
Shimoda claiming the checkered flag in the final 250 Class moto of the year. Align Media
Like I said, down the stretch, winning all of these motos, building toward 2023, I am sure it has to be a really promising sign for you the way things have gone for you?
Yeah, especially the outdoors. Hopefully I can bring this momentum to supercross and it will be all fine.
Looking forward to Motocross of Nations for you, you were kind of the best of all of the MX2 guys in the class with you today, are you at the point where you feel you can go in and win the MX2 class at RedBud?
I mean that’s the goal, but again just doing the best I can be so yeah, we’ll see.
Watch our best post-race show from the finale:
