Renthal Accepting 2020 Rider Support Applications

Renthal is now accepting rider support applications for the 2020 racing season. For over 35 years, Renthal has run the most successful amateur rider support program in the United States, which has seen many of the sports elite professional riders come up through the ranks as Renthal supported athletes. Support at the grassroots level is very important to Renthal, as it assists riders in achieving their dream of getting to the next level and helps provide a smooth transition from amateur to pro more seamless through use of Renthal products.

To apply for sponsorship from Renthal you must visit their dedicated sponsorship page which allows you to upload all your information and attach a resume in Word or PDF format. Sponsorship is available for all disciplines of racing in the USA, whether you ride motocross, off-road, ATV, road race or something in between. Renthal is looking for riders who can represent us in a professional manner on and off the track (existing sponsored riders can apply using the same method to maintain their sponsorship through the 2020 race season).

For more information about Renthal’s amateur support program, visit the sponsorship page. Supported riders are encouraged to interact on social media during the events they attend throughout the season.

Link: Renthal

Team Honda HRC announced that Jo Shimoda will race a CRF250R for Honda’s factory squad during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Japanese native will race alongside teammates Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas.

Born and raised in Suzuka, Japan, Shimoda began riding dirt bikes when he was four years old. After earning early success as an amateur racer in his home country, he sought out stiffer competition internationally. He competed in Europe (even racing against Jett Lawrence on occasion) and in the U.S., earning the 2016 Supermini 2 AMA Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch at age 14. He signed with the Honda-supported Factory Connection team’s amateur program in 2017, then turned pro near the end of the 2019 season. In 2020 (Shimoda’s first full year as a professional), he finished third in the AMA 250SX East Region final standings, earning the AMA Supercross Rookie of the Year Award. With the Factory Connection team closing before the following season, Shimoda signed with Pro Circuit Kawasaki. In 2021 he became the first Japanese rider to win an AMA 250SX main event, finishing second in the East Region final standings. Last year saw him become the first Japanese rider to score an AMA Pro Motocross overall win, earning second in the 250 final standings. He was third in the same series earlier this year, also taking second in the inaugural SuperMotocross 250 class. So far in his career, Shimoda has collected three 250 overall wins in AMA Pro Motocross, one 250 Regional win in AMA Supercross and one 250 win in SuperMotocross.