Everyone loves Jo Shimoda, and his performance at this year’s MXoN showcased that he has all the ingredients to be a contender when he eventually steps up to the premier class. His second-place finish in the Open qualifying race helped Japan qualify for the A-Final for the first time in nine years. The team was strong across the board, but Shimoda’s 2–6 moto finishes played a major role in securing 11th overall in the final classification.

Jo was undoubtedly one of the shining lights to come out of Ironman. Watching his smooth style as he manhandled the 450 around the track was incredible to see, especially considering he’d voiced concerns about his lack of prep heading in. With just a handful of days on the machine, he looked comfortable from the get-go. We caught up with him post-race to discuss his 450 debut, the collision with RJ Hampshire, Team Japan, and much more!

Jo Shimoda interview starts 17:46