RIO SHIMONO Closes Kyojo Cup With Fifth Straight Win at Fuji Finale

November 9, 2025

• RIO SHIMONO capped off her championship season with authority, taking her fifth consecutive Sprint race win and seventh victory of the year at Fuji. Already crowned Kyojo Cup champion last month, she demonstrated why she earned that title by dominating qualifying with a pole position 0.216 seconds clear of the field and converting it into another lights-to-flag victory.
• The podium became an all-Japanese affair as MIKI ONAGA secured second place after overtaking AIMI SAITO at the first corner early in the race. Saito, who had qualified second and was the only other driver to break the 1:45 barrier, rounded out the podium in third. The top three managed to avoid the chaos that unfolded behind them when a Turn 3 collision triggered a multi-car pileup.
• Drama struck when MAKO HIRAKAWA and Itsumo Shiraishi collided at Turn 3, creating a domino effect that eliminated seven cars including international drivers like Flame Arikkala and Kelsey Pinkowski. The incident required a safety car until lap five, but once racing resumed, we saw competitive moves throughout the field with KOKORO SATO climbing to fifth and various position changes in the midfield before penalties reshuffled the final results.

fuji speedway, japanese motorsport, kyojo cup, sprint race