LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Jo Shimoda earned the holeshot, which was critical because passing was at a premium in the opening laps.
Shimoda rode off to a comfortable lead and was given a respite when Haiden Deegan crashed with Ryder DiFrancesco midway through the race.
“I was just focusing on myself,” Shimoda told Peacock’s Jason Thomas. “I got a good start and tried to sprint away right away.”
Shimoda led all 15 laps of the race, but he was not happy with his pace and vowed to run stronger in Moto 2.
Deegan recovered from his crash quickly and remounted in fourth, and then did what Deegan does best. He picked off Tom Vialle and closed the gap on Seth Hammaker as time was running off the clock.
“All I can say is, ‘I’m going to fight.’ ” Deegan told Will Christien. “We’ve got one more moto to go and that’s all I can do.”
Deegan clipped Ryder DiFrancesco mid-air when DiFrancesco scrubbed speed on a jump, but that incident galvanized the two-time defending champion.
Hammaker held on to finish third and still has a shot at the victory if Shimoda and Deegan stumble. If he can deny Shimoda the runner-up position, he could play spoiler and help Deegan earn his third title.
Fourth-place Tom Vialle and Nate Thrasher rounded out the top five.
- Shimoda earned the holeshot.
- On Lap 4. Shimoda’s lead over Deegan was 4.6 seconds.
- Deegan crashed on Lap 6 with DiFrancesco.
- Deegan remounted quickly to remain fourth.
- Deegan lost an additional six seconds with the crash.
- Deegan moved into third around Vialle on Lap 9.
- Deegan moved into second around Hammaker on Lap 12.
- Shimoda beat Deegan by 2.367 seconds.
In Race Notes
Shimoda earned the holeshot over Hammaker.
Hammaker entered the race third in points with a chance for the championship.
DiFrancesco jumped into third early, while Deegan overcame his poor qualification 10th) to run fourth.
Vialle rounded out the top five on Lap 4.
DiFrancesco scrubbed speed and Deegan clips him. Both riders went down, but Deegan recovered quickly.
DiFrancesco remained on the ground for a few laps, but walked to the medical cart on his own power.
Deegan moved up to third on Lap 9 and he closed to within three seconds of Hammaker.
With DiFrancesco’s crash, Nate Thrasher moved into fifth.
Deegan took second from Hammaker on Lap 12. The gap to Shimoda was five seconds.
Shimoda held Deegan at bay, but both riders put themself in a position to win the overall with a Moto 2 victory.
Cole Davies retired with a Lap 2 crash. DiFrancesco exited on Lap 6 after being landed on by Deegan.
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