Jo Shimoda took advantage of problems for Haiden Deegan to win Moto 1 of the RedBud Nationals in Buchanan, Michigan.
Shimoda picked a great time to win as the president of Honda HRC traveled to the United States to watch his countryman ride.
“Good start,” Shimoda said. “Let’s go again in the second moto.”
Levi Kitchen surged in the second half of the race to secure second.
“It feels good,” Kitchen said. “I actually fell twice on the first lap. I got forward and I fell; I got forward and I fell and I thought I’m going to have my work cut out for me. I just put my head down and my training paid off.”
Tom Vialle led early before finishing third as the two principle championship challengers stood on the podium in a race where Haiden Deegan experienced two issues during the race. Deegan finished well outside the top 10.
Fourth-place Michael Mosiman and Seth Hammaker rounded out the top five.
DiFrancesco was unable to capitalize on his fastest time in qualification. He finished 12th.
Deegan was pushed wide in Turn 1 and then fell midway through the race. He finished 14th.
In Race Notes
Shimoda grabbed the holeshot with the president of Honda in attendance.
Vialle started second in an attempt to gain some points and took the lead by the end of Lap 1.
That is a distinct possibility with Deegan getting a terrible start in 17th.
True to form, Deegan climbed into the top 10 on Lap 2. He was ninth.
Deegan climbed to seventh in the first eight minutes, but tucked his front wheel and tipped over. He fell to ninth again.
Hammaker also took advantage of Deegan’s mistake to settle into the final podium position.
At the 10-minute mark, Jalek Swoll, in fourth, and Nate Thrasher rounded out the top five.
DiFrancesco rode 14th at the time.
At the halfway mark, Deegan worked his way back into the seventh position but he was 20 seconds behind Vialle who still led.
Shimoda and Hammaker continued to show top three results.
Levi Kitchen moved into fourth with Swoll in fifth.
Kitchen took third from Hammaker on Lap 8.
On the same lap, Deegan passed Swoll for sixth.
Shimoda caught Vialle for the lead.
Shimoda assumes the top position on Lap 9.
Deegan began to smoke and crashed a second time. He dropped to 12th, which put him in a questionable position to score an overall win.
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