Following a November 25 crash during pre-season training at The Dog Pound track in Florida, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda has undergone surgery to repair two fractured and displaced vertebrae in his upper back and lower neck. The procedure took place on November 26 at Tampa General Hospital. Shimoda’s spinal column is completely uninjured, and he has full movement and feeling.
Shimoda, who enjoyed a breakout 2025 season that was highlighted by his winning the SuperMotocross 250 Championship, is expected to make a full recovery, though it is common for that process to take approximately three months with this injury.
“It’s a shame to get injured as I was getting ready for the new season,” Shimoda said. “I’ve been riding well, and we’ve made good progress with the bike. I knew when I crashed that something was wrong, but it’s fortunate that the spinal cord is okay. Thank you to my doctors for the great care I’ve received. I feel motivated to start working on my recovery, and I hope it will go as quickly as possible.”
