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MONSTER ENERGY®/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI RIDER LEVI KITCHEN LANDS ON THE PODIUM AT ROUND 2 OF THE MONSTER ENERGY® AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (January 14, 2024) - Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen secured a second-place finish on his KX™250 in the 250SX Main Event through treacherous rain and mud conditions. Maximus Vohland was running in second place until the tough conditions kept him from finishing the race, like several competitors, setting him back to a 19th place finish. Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo battled through the sloppy terrain, landing himself in eighth place. Jason Anderson would finish 12th after recovering from a violent fall at the start of the 450SX Main Event.
Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, made its return to the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Championship after a nearly 14-year hiatus. Sitting on the edge of the San Francisco Bay, the stadium provides a picturesque panorama for fans. However, the location also frequently experiences inclement weather conditions which was proven as rain fell consistently throughout race day. The steady rainfall led to a slick, rutted and at times sticky track, resulting in the cancellation of practice, a qualifying session, and shortened main events.
Kitchen and Vohland started off the day on the muddy track, securing the sixth and eighth qualifying position, respectively. Heading into the heat race, both the No.47 of Kitchen and No.20 of Vohland ran up front, battling until the checkered flag where they would finish third and fourth. In the 250SX Main Event, both Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders executed great starts battling consistently through the sloppy course. Kitchen and Vohland battled for podium position until the muddy conditions relegated Vohland to the 19th position. Kitchen made his way up to the second position, closing a 20-second gap on the first place rider to less than a second as the checkered flag waved on the 250SX Main Event. By securing a second-consecutive podium finish, Kitchen sits just five points behind the leader in the 250SX West Championship Points Standings.
Anderson kicked off the muddy event qualifying in seventh on his Monster Energy Kawasaki KX™450SR, with Cianciarulo right behind in eighth during the one session riders had on track before racing began. Both Kawasaki riders persevered through their heat races, the No. 21 finishing fourth and the No. 9 finishing sixth. In the 450SX Main Event, Cianciarulo battled within the Top 10 throughout the race, ultimately finishing eighth. Anderson hit an unexpected soft spot down the start, resulting in a fall. He quickly recovered but got up in 18th position. The No. 21 battled forward through the downpour and deteriorating track, finishing 12th for the 450SX Main Event.
“We knew coming into this weekend that we were going to have weather, but not as bad as we had. After the first qualifying session I was looking forward to the second one because of bike changes we wanted to make, but once it was cancelled it was tough heading into the heat race with not a ton of time on the track. I felt decent in the heat, and in the Main Event I went down on the start. The fall shook me up at first but my KX™450SR powered through the pack and we made up some good points for the championship. I feel good and I’m ready to get back at it next weekend in San Diego.”
Jason Anderson
“Coming into Round 2 I was ready to do my best and I believe we had an encouraging weekend. I qualified P8 which was okay, I stayed consistent in the heat race and main event. The track conditions were so gnarly, and I’m stoked to finish how we did considering what we were dealt on track. We are still heading in the right direction, and I’m stoked to be back in SoCal next weekend. We’ll put in work and make it happen.”
Adam Cianciarulo
“I’m stoked on the day today. Started off with a decent qualifying, but I knew I had to finish up in the front to get good gate pick for the main. During the main event, I honestly didn’t know that Jordon (Smith) was the leader. With how muddy it was, you couldn’t tell who was who, and I didn’t even know I was in second until the very end. I ran a consistent pace and didn’t try anything silly, which I believe helped get me the second place finish. In a race like this, a podium feels like a win. Thanks to my Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, we are looking good in the points, and I can’t wait to be back next weekend.”
Levi Kitchen
“The day was going good until it wasn’t. I qualified pretty good and I felt comfortable in the mud. I had a good start for the heat race and set myself up in a good position for the mud and the main event. In the main I felt comfortable and thought we were going to have a good race until we had an issue that ended our night. I am bummed out for the night to end that way because I felt like I ran pretty good all day and had a great chance at a podium. But we will regroup and get back to it this week and come in firing to San Diego.”
Maximus Vohland