Shimoda Opens 2025 Season With 250SX West Win

• Jo Shimoda leads from start to finish for 250SX West victory
• 2025 CRF250R wins in professional racing debut
• Jett and Hunter Lawrence look forward to San Diego rebound

 The 2025 AMA Supercross season kicked off on Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, with Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda claiming the first 250SX West main event of the season with a wire-to-wire victory. Meanwhile, his teammates, Hunter and Jett Lawrence, both experienced misfortune in the 450SX main and notched frustrating results just outside the top 10, but they expect to bounce back next weekend in San Diego.

Shimoda delivered an outstanding performance in the 250SX West class, leading from start to finish aboard his CRF250RWE to secure a dominant victory and the red plate heading into round 2. Other than a few small mistakes early on, Jo rode smooth, consistent laps until finishing 4.7 seconds ahead of the runner-up rider.

In the 450SX main event, Jett and Hunter Lawrence encountered difficulties on a tricky track that caught out many riders throughout the night. Jett became caught in the Tuff Blocks off the start and rounded the first turn in last place. He began working his way forward, only to fall again a couple of laps later, this time in the sand. That put him in last place once again–this time with a larger gap to the front. He did his best to mitigate the damage but could only climb to 12th before the checkered flag flew.

Meanwhile, Hunter had started in sixth, and he advanced to fourth by about the midway point. Unfortunately, the sand that had claimed his brother also caused Hunter to fall, but he remounted and managed to finish just ahead of Jett, in 11^th. The showing was obviously not what the brothers or team had hoped or worked for, but they nonetheless remain optimistic for the season ahead. Quadlock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath had a respectable showing in the main event to finish in 13^th.

NOTES

• Jett and Hunter Lawrence were featured in Friday’s pre-season press conference, along with Jo Shimoda. Afterward, the teammates hit the track for a riding session with the other riders.
• For the first time in over 750 AMA Supercross rounds, five premier-class champions were on the starting line together. Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton both won crowns with Honda, and Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb and Jason Anderson are also past champions.
• The 450 class lineup also features seven other past champions from the 250 class who have not captured a premier class Supercross title, as well as a multi-time champion from MXGP. These 13 riders would all finish in the top 14.
• Jett is trying to become only the second rider to win back-to-back championships to start his premier-class SX career (Jeremy McGrath won his first four with Honda).
• The Lawrence Brothers Supercross VIP experience is back for its second year. Included is early VIP check-in and privileged entry to the Lawrence Factory Fan Zone, a meet-and-greet with the Lawrence brothers, a track walk, lunch and more. More information is available here.
• To recognize his status as reigning 450SX Champion, Jett ran a red number plate with a fluorescent-yellow number 1 on his CRF450RWE at the opener. As the reigning SuperMotocross Champion, the Australian will run the yellow digit for the entire series.
• SoCal Honda Powersports, a popular Southern California Powerhouse dealer, set up a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF150R and a CRF250R, and engaged with fans and customers.
• Shimoda’s 250SX victory was the third of his career, and his first with Honda.
• With his win this weekend, Shimoda joins other Red Riders who have topped the support class at Anaheim, including Jeremy McGrath (twice), Travis Preston (twice), Andrew Short, Trey Canard, Cole Seely, Eli Tomac (three times) and Jett Lawrence.
• Jett Lawrence notched the second-best time in both qualifying sessions. Hunter Lawrence was fifth, while Jo Shimoda was fourth-quickest in 250SX West. Also of note was Phoenix Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis, with 10^th in 450SX.
• NBC’s opening show included a feature on the Lawrence family.
• Jett Lawrence was presented with the 2024 SMX championship ring to close out the Race Day Live show.
• On Friday evening, Honda’s social-media channels posted a video of Jett and Hunter Lawrence catching a private HondaJet. The brothers then transitioned to a pair of Acura NSX sportscars, which they took to Angel Stadium.
• During the opening ceremonies, reigning AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross champ Jett Lawrence was introduced with a skit suggesting he was late to arrive at the race. Jett walked on the stage before mounting his CRF450RWE and riding onto the field.
• In the first 450SX heat race, Jett narrowly was delayed avoiding a crash that took out four riders, and he found himself fighting forward from outside of a qualifying position. Jett made steady progress through the pack and finished in fifth. Hunter Lawrence had a strong start in the second heat, riding in third position, but after trading positions several times, he crossed the finish line in fourth place.
• Other 450SX Red Riders to qualify through the heats were Quadlock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath and Joey Savatgy, and SmarTop/Motoconcepts Honda’s Vince Friese. In the last-chance qualifier, Ryan Breece finished in third to claim a qualifying position.
• Shimoda sat mid-pack after the first 250SX West heat-race start, but he steadily advanced through the field to finish in fourth place, qualifying directly to the main event. Also advancing through the heats was SmarTops/MotoConcepts Honda rider Noah Viney.
• Shimoda set the fastest lap time in the 250SX main event, as the only rider in his class to dip into the 1:05 range.
• Shimoda participated in the post-race press conference.
• San Diego will mark the first time ever for Shimoda to hold the red plate.
• Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 2 this Saturday in San Diego.

Media contact:

Tati Ziemer // Jonnum Media // tati@jonnummedia.com // +1 (707) 888-9418

450SX Results

1. Chase Sexton (KTM)
2. Ken Roczen (Suz)
3. Jason Anderson (Kaw)
4. Cooper Webb (Yam)
5. Eli Tomac (Yam)
6. Justin Barcia (Gas)
7. Justin Cooper (Yam)
8. Justin Hill (KTM)
9. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
10. Malcolm Stewart (Hus)

—

11. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)

12. Jett Lawrence (Hon)

13. Shane McElrath (Hon)

15. Vince Friese (Hon)

19. Ryan Breece (Hon)

21. Joey Savatgy (Hon)

450SX Championship Points (after 1 of 17 rounds)

1. Chase Sexton (25)
2. Ken Roczen (22)
3. Jason Anderson (20)
4. Cooper Webb (18)
5. Eli Tomac (17)
6. Justin Barcia (16)
7. Justin Cooper (15)
8. Justin Hill (14)
9. Aaron Plessinger (13)
10. Malcolm Stewart (12)

—

11. Hunter Lawrence (11)

12. Jett Lawrence (10)

13. Shane McElrath (9)

15. Vince Friese (7)

19. Ryan Breece (3)

21. Joey Savatgy (0)

250SX West Region Results

1. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
2. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
3. Jordon Smith (Tri)
4. Ryder Difrancesco (Gas)
5. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
6. Coty Schock (Yam)
7. Anthony Bourdon (Yam)
8. Cole Davies (Yam)
9. Garret Marchbanks (Kaw)
10. Cole Thompson (Yam)

—

17. Parker Ross (Hon)

18. Noah Viney (Hon)

19. Gavin Towers (Hon)

250SX West Region Championship Points (after 1 of 10 rounds)

1. Jo Shimoda (25)
2. Julien Beaumer (22)
3. Jordon Smith (18)
4. Ryder Difrancesco (17)
5. Haiden Deegan (16)
6. Coty Schock (15)
7. Anthony Bourdon (14)
8. Cole Davies (13)
9. Garret Marchbanks (12)
10. Cole Thompson (11)

—

17. Parker Ross (5)

18. Noah Viney (4)

19. Gavin Towers (3)

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