Prince of Paris 2023 in style, that is to say by dominating the debates, displaying a high-class style on the handlebars of his official Honda HRC and the humble, but intense smile of an “exotic” pilot happy to being crowned in the City of Lights, Jo Shimoda had ticked all the boxes to be re-invited in 2024… And the idea of a SX2 duel at the top between this reigning Prince and the new 250 East Coast champion, Tom Vialle , was also obvious! Prince vs Champ, Jo vs Tom, we’re already salivating!
Main image: Ray Archer
Racing on the West Coast (Shimoda) and the East Coast (Vialle), Jo and Tom have only met twice this season in Supercross, during the East-West shootout in Nashville. and Salt Lake City. Each time, the Honda Monster rider was ahead of the KTM Red Bull official but Tom was playing for his championship, so the situation was distorted. But in Paris on November 16 and 17, there will be no valid calculation: Shimoda will have a title to defend and Vialle will play (for the first and last time in 2024!) at home. Other American SX riders remain to be announced but already, the SX2 Inter category, resurrected last year by the organizers, promises great emotions for fans of the Paris Supercross!
Jo Shimoda finished on the podium six times in ten races and brilliantly won the last event, in Denver, a few days ago. Unfortunately for him, a mechanical breakdown in the mud of San Francisco left him irremediably out of the title race and he finished just off the championship podium. All the more reason to keep the crown of Prince of Paris, especially against the champion of the East Coast!
See you on November 16 & 17 at the Paris La Défense Arena for a 41st edition which promises to be a big 40th anniversary, the first SX in Paris having taken place in March 1984!
