Levi Kitchen cooks at Unadilla MX National

The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship tour was back in action after its summer break over the weekend at the Unadilla (NY) MX National, Round 9 of 11, and the Monster Energy tandem of Levi Kitchen (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) and Haiden Deegan (Star Racing/Yamaha) would dominate the 250 class at ‘Dilla, going 1st and 2nd, respectively. In the process, Deegan extended his championship points lead over Kitchen to 70 points as Kitchen moved past KTM’s Tom Vialle and into the series’ runner-up position with two rounds remaining.

In addition to Kitchen and Deegan’s excellence on Saturday at Unadilla, Monster Energy received its first moto podium from newly acquired Star Racing/Yamaha 250 rider Max Anstie, who placed 3rd in the opening moto (and 5th overall).

Kitchen would pull the Motosport.com Holeshot in the opening moto, with Anstie close behind in 3rd position. But getting around Kitchen on the opening lap was Monster Energy’s Chance Hymas (Honda), who was the fastest racer in 250 practice at Unadilla by more than two seconds. Hymas led for next nine laps when disaster struck.

“Chance was looking to break these guys as he had about eight seconds on them – and then Unadilla happened,” said NBC announcer James Stewart of Hymas’ spectacular over-the-bars crash on Lap 11 that knocked Hymas back to 32nd place at the end of Moto 1. Hymas was contesting his first-ever Unadilla MX National.

Deegan would catch and pass Kitchen (2nd) when Kitchen made a mistake in the bottom of Unadilla’s ‘Screw-U’ section, took the lead and brought ‘er home for the opening moto win - setting the stage for Moto 2. But Kitchen was not to be denied in Moto 2, leading it wire-to-wire for the 2-1 victory ahead of Deegan (1-2 for 2nd) by some ten seconds.

“I want to win every time. And once it went into white flag (opening moto) I was thinking ‘Next moto we’ll see who gets it. Haiden’s got a big gap (in the overall points) and I just want to win these last three,” said Kitchen.

As for Deegan, the 250 points leader missed the post-race press conference due to illness, according to his dad, Brian. But as Kitchen pointed out, the 70-point lead means Deegan can clinch the 250 outdoor title at Budds Creek (MD) this weekend. 

In 450 class racing, Monster Energy was off the podium, though well-represented in the top ten with Dylan Ferrandis (Phoenix Honda) scoring a season-best 4th place and Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) placing 5th. 

Unadilla MX 250 class results                                     450 MX class results

1st - Kitchen (Monster/PC/Kawasaki)                              4th - Ferrandis (Monster/Phoenix Honda)

2nd - Deegan (Monster/Star/Yamah)                              5th - Anderson (Monster/Kawasaki)

5th - Anstie (Monster/Star/Yamaha)                                6th - Cooper (Monster/Star/Yamaha)

Overall Standings (9 of 11 rounds)

250 class                                                                      450 class                     

1st - Deegan, 408 points                                                 4th - Cooper, 317 points

2nd - Kitchen, 338 points                                                5th - Anderson, 295 points

4th - Shimoda, 289 points                                               6th - Ferrandis,  273 points

Notes & Quotes:

• “Yeah, Levi Kitchen was feeling good after a couple weeks off – and an off weekend at his hometown (race) in Washougal (Washington).” – NBC announcer James Stewart on Kitchen’s comeback win at Unadilla.
• “He (Deegan) was having fun, no pressure on him.” – added Stewart on Deegan knowing 2nd place overall Vialle had crashed in the opening moto.
• “That was a big first moto win from Deegan. But Kitchen kept it close.” – NBC’s announcer Jason Weigandt foreshadowing what was about to go down it 250 Moto 2.
• “I actually took a lot of time off the bike completely. I just needed a reset. Pretty much just fished for two weeks and golfed.” – Kitchen on what he did during the two weeks off between Washougal and Unadilla.
• “And if I don’t fish I’m pretty grumpy. Ask my girlfriend.” – Added Kitchen, who even found time to fish when he was at Unadilla.
• “It was all so new and happened all so quick for those first few races. Over the break I was able to fine tune things more to how I wanted them to feel. And get used to the 250 outdoors.” – Anstie on getting used to the Star Racing/Yamaha YZ 250F.
• Hurricane Debby brought some heavy rain down on the Unadilla MX track prior to Saturday’s National. But Unadilla owner Greg Robinson and his crew stepped up and had the track in excellent condition for Saturday’s National.
• Good to see Cooper Webb (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) back at the track – but bad to see him leave the opening 450 moto following a crash and what looked to be a possible hand/arm injury. Webb had thumb surgery after Monster Energy AMA Supercross and this was his first race outdoors.

Up next: The Saturday, August 17th Round 10 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship will take place in Mechanicsville, Md., with the 35th running of the Budds Creek MX National. For more information on the AMA Pro Motocross Championships, check out www.promotocross.com.