Making their inaugural appearance at the Paris Supercross, Jo Shimoda and Jett Lawrence left an indelible mark on the event, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.
Over two evenings, the Paris la Defense Arena witnessed an extraordinary show, drawing a packed audience.
While Australia’s Chad Reed had previously claimed victory in 2007, it was a historic moment as Japanese rider Jo Shimoda triumphed in Paris, becoming the Prince of Paris in the SX2 category. Simultaneously, Jett Lawrence, the Australian sensation, secured the title of the 28th King of Paris.
Jett Lawrence dominated the first night and continued his winning streak on Sunday, despite facing challenges in the first two races. Average starts compelled him to mount comebacks, securing second place behind his brother Hunter in the first race and then trailing Ken Roczen in the second. The main event witnessed dramatic turns as Jett’s pass caused his brother to fall, and leader Ken Roczen crashed alone before the halfway mark. Jett seized the opportunity, clinching victory ahead of Cooper Webb and Hunter, ultimately earning the title of the new King of Paris.
In the SX2 class, Jo Shimoda replicated his Saturday success on Sunday, graciously conceding a race win to a French competitor. Despite a crash in the second race, Shimoda made an impressive comeback to secure third place. The final race saw a captivating battle between Tom Vialle and Anthony Bourdon, with Bourdon emerging victorious in the last corner. Jo Shimoda’s win in the main event propelled him to the title of the Prince of Paris, leading the classification ahead of Tom Vialle and Anthony Bourdon.
Creating history, the ‘Rest of the World’ team secured the Nations classification for the first time in the event’s history. With the Lawrence brothers dominating the SX1 class and Jo Shimoda claiming the Prince of Paris title, they led the team classification ahead of France and the USA.
Looking ahead, the 41st edition of the Paris Supercross is scheduled for November 16th and 17th next year.
