Monster Energy’s Levi Kitchen wins first 250 class MX National of the season

Finally finding the speed and consistency that’s made him one of the top Pro Motocross Championship 250 racers the last two seasons, Monster Energy’s Levi Kitchen (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) stepped it up on Saturday at the FXR Spring Creek MX National, presented by Frescados, and wowed everyone with a 1-1 performance for his first overall victory of the summer season.

And with the win, coupled with some second moto bad luck for Monster Energy’s Chance Hymas (Honda) and Jo Shimoda (Honda), Kitchen was able to vault from 5th place in the overall 250 class standings to 2nd place (through seven of 11 rounds).

"Man, it's been a bit of a struggle lately," said Kitchen, who started the ’24 outdoor season with back-to-back podium finishes – and hadn’t made the podium since. "People quickly forget when you're not up here. I'm just trying to get back where we belong."

And if Kitchen’s two moto performance was the biggest statement at Spring Creek for Monster Energy racers, Haiden Deegan’s (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) was a close second when he ran ‘er from dead last in the second moto (following crash at the start) to salvage a 4th place moto effort and, most importantly, a 2nd place overall finish.

"It's been a huge learning experience this year, having never been to a lot of these tracks," said Deegan of his first-ever race at Spring Creek. "It's been a learning curve, getting my feet wet. I'm doing my best with the knowledge we have.”

The crash that collected Deegan as the start of the second 250 moto also involved Hymas and Shimoda, who were 2nd and 4th, respectively, in the overall 250 points chase heading in to Spring Creek. Shimoda was able to make it back up, but retired after Lap 9. Hymas wasn’t so lucky as he left the race with an apparent ankle injury.

“Start was dialed in Moto 2, but I tried to catch myself from falling and was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Hymas, who’s outstretched leg caught Deegan’s front wheel and send Deegan down – hard – into the Spring Creek dirt.

Also running well for Monster Energy in the 250 class was newly acquired Star Racing/Yamaha pilot Max Anstie who put up his best finish of the season on the new bike with a top five 4th place overall (7-3). Ty Masterpool (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) would have a rough go of it in both motos, but still managed a top ten (8th, 8-10) while Jordon Smith (Star Racing/Yamaha) rounded out the top ten for Monster Energy with a 9th (6-13).

Big news out of the 450 class at Spring Creek was Monster Energy’s Justin Cooper (Star Racing/Yamaha) finally cracking the code to reach the overall podium. Cooper’s excellent 5-3 two moto run was good enough for 3rd place – his first 450 class podium finish of the season (second career) – which was highlighted by his Moto 2 holeshot and six lap race lead.

“I feel like I’ve been giving my best each time out and, obviously, a holeshot makes things a lot easier for me,” said Cooper. “Do my laps and focus on getting as far away as I can.”

Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) also had one of his better races of the season, going 4-4 for 5th place on the 450s. And right behind Anderson, in 6th place, was Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis (Phoenix Honda), with a 6-6 effort at Spring Creek.

Spring Creek MX 250 class results                                 450 MX class results

1st - Kitchen (Monster/PC/Kawasaki)                                  3rd - Cooper (Monster/Star/Yamaha)

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

4th - Anstie (Monster/Star/Yamaha)                                    6th - Ferrandis (Monster/Phoenix Honda)

Overall Standings (7 of 11 rounds)

250 class                                  450 class                      

1st - Deegan, 314 points             3rd - Cooper, 249 points

2nd - Kitchen, 263 points           5th - Anderson, 221 points

4th - Hymas, 213 points              7th - Ferrandis, 204 points

Notes & Quotes

• “Kitchen’s open today. Free French fries!” – NBC commentator James Stewart on Levi ‘Kitchen’s’ 250 class victory at Spring Creek
• "I just fought all day," said Kitchen. "I had to be patient with the track. Overall it was an awesome day and now let's carry this momentum into Washougal for the hometown there."
•  “I had to show I got that dog in me.” – Deegan on his second moto come-from-behind effort.
• “He had actually tipped over in that same corner that caught Deegan at one point, but he was able to hold on.” – NBC announcer Jason Weigandt on Kitchen’s similar crash to Deegan in the first 250 moto.
• Added Deegan: "Every moto each weekend is building a base. That base is getting bigger and bigger. We just want to continue to progress and take steps forward."
• “Rough weekend. Ankle is pretty banged up, but going to do what I can to be ready for Washougal.” – Chance Hymas
• “We’ve been building on this the whole season and I expect to be on the podium each weekend. But it’s kind of been tough being the only one out there on the Yamaha.” – Justin Cooper
• If you looked closely, Cooper ran a paddle tire on his YZ450F for Moto 2. “I got yanked pretty bad on the (Moto 1) start. Got away with it at RedBud, thought I could here. Night and day difference on the track for me. With the paddle it seemed like you could get around the track with way more momentum and pick up the speed easier with the paddle,” he said.

Up next: Round 8 of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship heads west for the annual running of the July 20th Motosport.com Washougal MX National in Washougal, Wash