DID announces that it has partnered with Supercross and Motocross rising star, Jo Shimoda for the 2024 and 2025 racing seasons. Part of the HRC Honda Factory Racing Team that utilizes D.I.D quality racing products, Jo will compete in the AMA Supercross 250, AMA Motocross 250, and SuperMotocross 250 Championships, while showcasing how DID products help him succeed throughout the season.
The 250 program of HRC Honda Factory Racing, which includes Jo, chooses to run DID’s 520ERT3 non-sealed, Exclusive Racing chain for its industry leading strength/weight ratio. With the 250’s being a lighter bike with less power, a lighter chain with less rolling resistance is the go-to. As we all know, professionally built and tuned pro bikes still have a lot of power and torque, so they still have to have plenty of strength to transfer that power from the motor to the rear wheel and do it in such a smooth manner. The 520ERT3 chain does just that.
The entire HRC Honda team chooses to utilize another high quality DID product and integral part of a race bike; in that being the rims. The DID ST-X rims are widely used by many pros in the pits because of their strength/weight ratio, just like chains. A wheel package is very important as that is what connects the rider and its bike to the ground, either giving him/her confidence to rip or a lack thereof. A rim that is too stiff, rigid, or heavy can wear a rider down very quickly and give them too much feedback in the hands and arms. A rim too weak or light will leave your mechanic (or yourself) having to change out rims every weekend because of flat spots. The DID ST-X is a great balance of both strength where you need it and weight where you don’t. Give them a try and your mechanic will thank you.
The super talented rider from Suzuka, Japan has been competing in the United States since he was 10 years old, earned the 2016 Supermini 2 AMA Amateur National Championship at the age of 14, and has seen success since turning pro at the end of 2019. In 2020 (Shimoda’s first full year as a professional), he finished third in the AMA 250SX East Region final standings, earning him the AMA Supercross Rookie of the Year Award. In 2021 he became the first Japanese rider to win an AMA 250SX main event, finishing second in the East Region final standings. In 2022 he became the first Japanese rider to score an AMA Pro Motocross overall win, earning second in the 250 final standings. We saw him placing 3’rd in the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross 250 standings and 2’nd in the inaugural SuperMotocross 250 Championship.
DID is headquartered in Ishikawa, Japan with over a century of experience developing and manufacturing top-quality products across various industries. With Jo being one of the most successful Japanese-born riders in AMA history, it makes for an easy decision to support Jo and choosing him to be an ambassador for the DID brand.
Daido Corporation of America President stated, “Jo is a great talent” and that he “hopes Jo will become the first Japanese-born AMA Supercross/Motocross champion.” Jo will help further push the DID brand in the market, as well as further develop new products. “We’re very excited to be supporting Jo and are excited to see his successes.”
