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LEVI KITCHEN RECLAIMS THE RED PLATE AT SPRING CREEK
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen overcame a dramatic 250 Class opening-moto crash to secure third overall (8-2) at Round 8 of the Pro Motocross Championship at Spring Creek, reclaiming the 250 Class championship points lead and the coveted red plate. Teammate Drew Adams continued to build momentum in his outdoor campaign, earning fastest qualifier for the first time in his career before delivering a season-best sixth-overall finish (7-7). In the premier class, Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks fought through multiple crashes to secure ninth overall (15-6), while Cornelius Tøndel added another consistent performance to his résumé with a 12th-overall finish (12-11) in his second outing aboard the KX™450SR.
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders once again showcased their speed during qualifying, with both Kitchen and Adams at the top of the timesheets. Adams continued his recent momentum by setting the fastest lap of the second session, in competition for that title with Kitchen for the duration of the entire session. Adams was the only 250 rider with a lap time that dipped below the 1:58 mark, earning him the first overall fastest qualifier of his professional career, while Kitchen followed closely behind in second. The impressive 1-2 qualifying effort gave both riders prime gate selections heading into the afternoon motos and set the tone for another competitive day in the 250 Class.
In 250 Moto 1, Kitchen's afternoon took an unfortunate turn just moments after the gate dropped when he became a victim of a first-turn pileup along with the championship contenders at the front of the pack. With nowhere to go, the No. 47 was collected in the incident and forced to remount deep in the field outside the Top 20. Rather than allowing the setback to define his day, Kitchen immediately began charging through the pack, making decisive passes lap after lap to climb from 33rd to eighth by the checkered flag and salvaging valuable championship points. Adams avoided the opening-lap chaos and quickly settled into a battle inside the Top 10. The No. 35 maintained a consistent pace throughout the moto, briefly advancing as high as sixth before ultimately crossing the finish line seventh to keep himself in contention for a strong overall finish.
In 250 Moto 2, another less-than-ideal start left Kitchen with more work to do, but he once again demonstrated his championship determination that has defined his outdoor season. Charging into the Top 10 within the opening laps, Kitchen continued picking off riders one by one before moving into second late in the moto. His impressive second-place finish secured third overall and allowed him to reclaim the 250 Class championship points lead heading into his hometown race at Washougal, Washington. Teammate Adams also faced an uphill battle after beginning the moto outside the Top 15, but methodically carved his way through the field with another composed ride. Matching his Moto 1 finish with another seventh-place result, Adams secured sixth overall, marking his strongest overall finish of his Pro Motocross career.
In 450 Qualifying, Monster Energy Kawasaki continued its strong form with both riders earning Top 10 gate selections. Tøndel led the team's effort in sixth overall, continuing to adapt quickly aboard the KX™450SR in just his second race with the team, while Marchbanks qualified eighth to continue his streak of consistent qualifying performances throughout the Pro Motocross season.
In 450 Moto 1, Marchbanks' effort quickly turned into a recovery ride after early contact with another rider shuffled him well down the running order, before another tipover added to the challenge. Despite the adversity, the No. 36 never backed down, producing an impressive charge through the field to recover to 15th while posting some of the fastest lap times of the field. Tøndel enjoyed a solid start to the afternoon and established himself just outside the Top 10 during the opening laps. The Norwegian native maintained a steady pace throughout the demanding moto, ultimately crossing the finish line 12th to put himself in position for another consistent overall result.
In 450 Moto 2, both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders continued fighting toward the front of the pack. Tøndel capitalized on another strong start, placing himself amongst the leaders during the opening laps before finding himself battling through the challenging conditions to finish 11th, securing 12th overall. Marchbanks once again found himself working from deep in the field after a difficult start, but steadily climbed into the Top 10 with another determined charge. A late-race tipover forced him to mount yet another comeback, but the No. 36 responded by charging from outside the Top 15 back to sixth at the finish. His relentless effort secured ninth overall, extending his streak of Top-10 overall finishes, and highlighting the speed and resilience he has displayed throughout the outdoor championship. Marchbanks and Tøndel leave Spring Creek sixth and 14th in the championship standings, respectively, ready to keep the momentum rolling into Washougal, Washington.
"It was definitely a tough day. I'm just thankful to be okay after that crash. It was a pretty big one, so huge thanks to my trainers for keeping me strong and to everyone who helps keep me protected; I'm grateful to walk away from that one. Thanks to all the fans for sticking behind me and keeping me motivated on a challenging day. It feels good to leave here with the red plate and keep this momentum rolling into Washougal."
- Levi Kitchen
"I'm really happy with the progress we made today. Qualifying P1 gave me confidence, and I felt like my speed was there all day. We still have some things to clean up, especially the starts, but coming through the pack for sixth overall feels like a solid step forward. Big thanks to the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team for all the work they've put in. I'm excited to keep building and see what we can do at Washougal."
- Drew Adams
"Overall, it was a solid day. We had good speed all day, but a couple mistakes made things harder than they needed to be. I had to fight through the pack in both motos after crashes, but I'm happy to come away with ninth overall. The goal is to be in the Top 10 even on the difficult days, so we'll keep building and carry that momentum into Washougal."
- Garrett Marchbanks
"I started off with a solid qualifying in sixth place this morning. Unfortunately, I didn't quite have what it took in the races today. A 12-11 for 12th overall was all I had. I’m looking forward to a week of good recovery and next weekend in Washougal."
- Cornelius Tøndel
