Jay Wilson wins third Japanese C’ship

Jay Wilson has racked up his second IA1 (450cc) Japanese Motocross Championship and his third successive Japanese motocross crown after securing the championship at the penultimate round over the weekend.

Wilson came into the round some 70 points clear of his nearest rivals, but with three motos on the day and more to come at the final round, there was still plenty to race for to ensure the championship was his. Not only did he have to face off against the best in Japan, but US-based Jo Shimoda also returned to his native country, throwing a cat among the pigeons in the championship.

Jay finished the weekend with 1-2-2 results, but not without some drama. The opening race saw Wilson cross the finish line in second place, but Shimoda was relegated several spots for jumping under a red-cross flag. In race two, the championship was there for the taking. Despite some nerves and a few on-track mistakes, Wilson was able to finish in second and clinch another championship. He rode a more carefree final race, engaging in a healthy battle with Shimoda in the early stages before closing in on him again at the finish.

“This championship is special – maybe more than the others – as I’ve really had to work for it,” Wilson explained. “The rider level in Japan has picked up considerably since I’ve been here. While the points gap on paper is good, it wasn’t like that on track in a lot of the races. I also felt like I enjoyed this one more. I tried to enjoy the process of racing for a championship and not get overwhelmed. I think I had a better balance, which allowed me to relax when it mattered and know that my riding would be good enough.

“It was cool to have my brother over for the weekend and catch up with him again. It’s been a while since he was last here, so I appreciate the effort to come over and be here for me when I won the championship,” Wilson went on to say.