Levi Kitchen Retains SMX 250 Red Plate with Clutch Podium Finish in Los Angeles

Running the Monster Energy SMX Playoffs red plate after having won the opening 250 class round of the 2026 SMS World Championship a week ago in Ohio, Monster Energy’s Levi Kitchen (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) overcame a 7^th place opening moto finish at Los Angeles’ Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday to win the all-important second moto, giving him a podium 3^rd place overall finish and preserving his No. 1 class position through two of three SMX Playoff rounds.

“The first moto was pretty bad. Didn’t really ride like myself,” admitted Kitchen, who has a three point lead over Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) heading into this weekend’s final Monster Energy SMX Playoffs round. “Second (moto) was nice. Stoked to have the red plate. Didn’t think I still had it.”

Kitchen was on fire in the second moto despite getting only a 5^th place start. He railed through the field, passing everyone – including overall LA SMX winner Julie Beaumer (KTM) – enroute to the 250 Moto 2 victory, which earned him the lone Monster Energy racer position on Saturday’s 250/450 class podiums.

Rounding out the 250 class top ten scoring for Monster Energy at Dignity Health Sports park were Star Racing/Yamaha’s Kayden Minear and Pierce Brown in 5^th and 6^th positions, Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Drew Adams in 7^th, Star Racing/Yamaha’s Landen Gordon in 8^th and Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo in 10^th.

Monster Energy SMX Playoffs opening round 450 class winner, Haiden Deegan (Star Racing/Yamaha), was able to make both LA SMX moto podiums on Saturday with two strong 3^rd place runs, but that wouldn’t be enough to hold onto the series red plate in the premier class as Deegan had to settle for 4^th place overall (3-3) on the night.

“Little unfortunate. I was riding so good, so well,” said Deegan of his Moto 2 effort. “Ended up going down in the sand, got back up, and some goon just ends up hammering my hand. Unfortunately I kind of panicked, rode Coop (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha teammate Cooper Webb) a little dirty. Didn’t want to do that to a teammate, but I wanted every position I could get.”

Added a bit dejected Webb: “I was pissed. I’m not going to lie. It’s unfortunate because we’re teammates. We’re training partners. We’re buddies.”

Webb would go on to place 5^th overall on Saturday with a 5-5 finish, followed by Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Garrett Marchbanks in 7^th (10-8).

And starting things out on the weekend in SMX Next action, Monster Energy/Team Green Kawasaki’s Kade Johnson would hold onto his overall series points lead, scoring an impressive sixth-straight SMX Next podium finish in 3^rd (dating back to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season). With 69 points through two Monster Energy SMS Next Playoff rounds, Johnson holds an 11-point lead over Ryder Malinoski (Yamaha) with one race remaining.

Notes & Quotes

• “He was a little ‘lacklazy’ in the early part of that race when Cole Davies (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) got around him,” NBC announcer James Stewart, freestyling a bit on the vernacular.
• “The Chef (Kitchen) was cooking, no doubt about that. And if you don’t like what you’re seeing, you might as well change the channel. He (Kitchen) takes it to the house from here.” - NBC announcer Ricky Carmichael the Monster Energy racer’s second 250 moto pass on Moto 1 winner Beaumer.
• Bit of an emergency for Kitchen on the 250 Moto 2 sight lap as the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team had to swap out his front tire, which had somehow gone flat, just prior to the start.
• “That was a tough lick he took.” – Carmichael on the 250 Moto 2 crash Davies suffered, resulting in a broken bike and DNF.
• “That crash in the sand costly for Deegan. He ends up 4^th overall
• “At that moment it changes everything with the points.” – Stewart on Deegan’s 450 Moto 2 crash.
• “Then chaos is going to ensue here. And let me just say this: Mr. Webb was not happy about that one.” – added Stewart on Deegan’s subsequent takeout of Webb as he was trying to make his way back to the front following his 450 Moto 2 crash.
• “I don’t want to choke you out with your popcorn, but you’d better get it for this round.” – Stewart on the upcoming (Sept. 26) Monster Energy SMX Playoffs final round in Ridgedale, Mo.

Monster Energy LA SMX results

Overall SMX Playoff points (after 2 of 3 rounds)

Up next: The Monster Energy SMX Playoffs head back to America’s heartland – Ridgedale, Mo. – for the third and final round of the 2026 SMX World Championship.