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It started before the season even began for Honda HRC Progressive and has continued into the opening rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
Injuries.
There have still been bright spots for the team, which has been a dominant force in both classes over the last few years—Hunter Lawrence’s performances, Chance Hymas’ second-place finish at the opener—but the injury bug has followed every step of the way.
Prior to the season, it lost Jo Shimoda, who was coming into his own having out-dueled Haiden Deegan to win his first major title in the U.S. at last years Playoffs, to a pre-season injury.
A month later, defending Pro Motocross and SMX Playoffs champion Jett Lawrence was sidelined. It marked the second straight Supercross season in which an injury derailed his bid for a second 450SX title.
The latest setback came when Hymas injured his shoulder at Anaheim 2, sidelining him for at least the next three rounds—possibly more. [Update: Hymas is set to undergo surgery and will be sidelined eight weeks]
While a definitive timeline has yet to be outlined by the team, there is hope that both Jett and Shimoda could return before the end of the Supercross season.
Prior to round 3 at Anaheim 2 last weekend, team manager Lars Lindstrom said he is “pretty confident” both riders will return at some point.
“Yeah, I think I’m pretty confident that we’ll see both of them back in Supercross at some point,” Lindstrom said. “Jett’s recovery is going incredible. The bone that he broke in his foot—the talus bone—is a really important bone. It’s basically the main platform where the tibia and fibula connect. So for that to be fully healed is critical.
“He’s been doing everything possible, from the hyperbaric chamber to all the tools and tricks we have with Doc G and the doctors he’s been working with. It’s been speeding up the recovery process quite a bit, just like it did with his knee last year. That’s the cool part—he’s in there every day trying to get better.”
While Lindstrom said Shimoda won’t be ready for the start of the 250SX East Division in Arlington on February 21, he believes he will be able to return later in the season.
“And Jo’s been doing the same thing,” Lindstrom added. “Luckily, his surgery went really well, and we’re really happy with that. He feels good, and I think he’ll be back. I wouldn’t say he’ll be back for the first East Coast race—we still don’t have a clear answer from the doctors—but he had some scans done this week, and we should know more pretty soon.”
When the injuries initially happened, it seemed very unlikely either rider would return to Supercross this season. For now, at least, there’s renewed hope that both could make it back before the season’s end.
Main image: Honda HRC
