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Jo Shimoda Achieves Sixth Place Finish In Indianapolis East/West Showdown Despite Teammate's Challenges
Honda HRC Progressive participated in the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the season in Indianapolis. Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas represented the team on their CRF250RWE race machines. Shimoda finished sixth after battling near the front early on, while Hymas faced challenges following an early crash and did not finish.
In the 450SX division, Honda's satellite teams led the brand's efforts as factory riders were sidelined due to injuries. Dylan Ferrandis from Phoenix Racing Honda secured eighth place in the main event, while Shane McElrath from Quad Lock Honda Racing achieved a top-10 finish.
During the 250SX East/West main event, Shimoda had a strong start and ran near the front early. He engaged in several battles on a soft, rutted track before finishing sixth. Meanwhile, Hymas experienced a challenging evening. A tip-over in the whoops set him back early, but he pushed forward with determination. Unfortunately, a late crash on the over-under jump ended his night prematurely.
Phoenix Racing Honda's Cullin Park finished 13th, with Quad Lock Honda Racing's Carson Mumford and Phoenix Racing Honda's Gavin Towers finishing 19th and 20th, respectively. In qualifying results, Shimoda posted the eighth-best time in combined 250SX qualifying results, with Hymas 11th.
Honda HRC Progressive's Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas participated in Friday's Media Day before joining other riders for practice ahead of race day. Jett and Hunter Lawrence remain sidelined as they recover from surgeries but attended the Indianapolis round to engage with fans and support their team.
A group of approximately 150 R&D staff from Honda's plant in Marysville, Ohio, along with some family members, attended the race. Around 30 Honda associates enjoyed watching from a suite. Tom Wood Powersports set up a pop-up activation booth displaying a CRF450R and CRF50F at the Honda HRC Progressive pits.
Special Initiatives and Future Plans
In support of Supercross and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's #LoveMotoStopCancer campaign, Honda HRC Progressive sported custom Throttle Jockey graphics designed by St. Jude patients on their bikes. The bike plastics will be auctioned off for charity.
The series now enters its first break before resuming with round 10 in Birmingham, Alabama. The competition will continue with 250SX East racing in a Triple Crown format.
Quotes from Riders and Team Manager
Chance Hymas reflected on his performance: "The East/West showdown was a DNF for me, unfortunately... Not a good night here in Indy; I need to bounce back in Birmingham."
Jo Shimoda shared his thoughts: "Well, first of all, my hand is feeling much better... Four more rounds, and the goal is to win again–we have to keep working as a team."
Lars Lindstrom commented: "Results-wise, this wasn't a race to write home about; I don't think we showed what our guys are capable of... It's really cool to have that kind of connection to the four-wheel racing side of Honda HRC."
Race Results Overview
{TABLE_X}The Indianapolis round saw competitive performances across both divisions despite challenges faced by some riders. As they prepare for upcoming races after this break period, teams aim to improve strategies while maintaining fan engagement through various initiatives.
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