Monster Energy Sweeps Seattle! Cooper Webb and Levi Kitchen Both Notch SX Wins

Battling in slop, like what’s supposed to be in the world of dirt bike racing, favored two Monster Energy combatants on Saturday at Seattle’s Lumen Field, Round 11 of 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb’s star power shown the brightest in the 450 main event as he out-dueled Honda’s Chase Sexton for the premier class victory – Webb’s third victory of the season (Arlington, Texas and Anaheim, Calif., II).

And in the return of 250 Western Region (WSX) class racing to the west coast, Monster Energy’s Levi Kitchen (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) made it clear that he was ‘The Man’ at Seattle as he flat out dominated the 250 WSX main event, winning by 21 seconds, the largest margin of victory this year (both classes), over RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) and extending his overall series points lead to eight, 131 to 123, over Hampshire.

On the 450s, with Sexton out front early, Webb played the stalking predator role, getting past Ken Roczen (Suzuki) and Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson, and pulling to within striking distance of the defending supercross champion, Sexton. And though it’d take some 16 laps before Webb made his move for the lead – twice – after Sexton stalled his bike in a corner (then re-passed Webb), only to have Webb catch and pass him (Sexton) back in the whoops – and hold on for a thrilling win at the checkers.

Said Webb: “Yeah, it was an incredibly challenging track. I know I say that every weekend – but this one was just brutal. On every lap we were all making mistakes, and it was really tough. So yeah, I just stayed clean. We all make mistakes, but maybe I made the least mistakes. Put myself in a good position for sure.”

Rounding out the top ten in scoring for Monster Energy at Seattle’s 450 class were Eli Tomac (Star Racing/Yamaha), who’d won the last three of four races at Seattle, in 6th place. Tomac’s Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha teammate Justin Cooper in 8th and Anderson in 10th.

Joining Kitchen on the podium with his second-straight podium finish of the year was Jo Shimoda (Honda). Shimoda picked up 20 points for his 3rd place effort at Seattle and continued to plow his way into the top five (5th) in the overall 250 WSX standings. Rounding out the Seattle 250 WSX top ten scoring for Monster Energy was Nate Thrasher (Star Racing/Yamaha), who challenged for the podium (in 4th at Lap 11), but fell back to 9th place at race’s end.

Added Kitchen (on winning his hometown race): “It was definitely big for me. Nerve-wracking when I came around the first lap and it was super loud. For me it kind of feels like my first win, because I’d only won Triple Crowns. So to do that in front of the home fans was pretty awesome.”

Notes & Quotes

• “I definitely tightened up, lost my flow, and lost some of my lines that were working early,” said Webb about the race end battle with Sexton. “I was plus five (seconds) at one point and he (Sexton) sucked it right up.”
• “We didn’t even mention Cooper Webb’s name all day long. Not in qualifying practice. Not in the heat. And I said before the race – this is sneaky. And this is his style track,” said NBC announcer Ricky Carmichael.
• One half second – final margin of victory for Webb over Sexton at the 450 checkers. One of the all-time closest finishes in Monster Energy AMA Supercross racing history.
• Webb went from 21 points down on 450 season points leaders Jett Lawrence (Honda) to 16 points down, 230 to 214.
• Local Seattleite Kitchen was introduced to the Lumen Field crowd – wearing a tall chef’s hat!
• “I’m just going to go across the street and see some family and friends, then go back to Florida and get ready for next weekend,” said Kitchen regarding how he was going to celebrate his Seattle win.
• “He dominated this main event. It looked like Levi was well within his comfort zone and the other riders didn’t have anything else to give,” said Carmichael on Kitchen’s dominant 250 WSX win at Seattle.
• “This is a tricky section and it looked like he got a little cross rutted,” on Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Jordon Smith crashing – twice – in the 250 WSX main. “And when you thought it couldn’t get any worse… that’s just gas on the fire.”
• “My riding’s been pretty good. I just can’t get the start,” said Shimoda. “Today I had a descent one, but crashed out multiple times. But to be on the podium tonight was good for me. I’m pretty stoked on this one.”
• Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Max Vohland announced he’s parking his bike for the remainder of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season following a practice crash in January that injured his hip.

Up next: Round 12 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross is scheduled for this Saturday, March 30th, at St. Louis’ Dome at the America’s Center.