Seth Hammaker Lands Pro Motocross Career Best (Fourth Overall) at Washougal National: “My best outdoor finish so far, which is pretty cool”
Seth Hammaker’s run in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Division was bittersweet. He picked up two wins, the first one coming over four years after his maiden career win, rode back into the points lead after an early deficit, and was so damn close to winning the title. It stung like hell for the Pennsylvania native and the team, no doubt.
But the key takeaway Hammaker had been saying throughout the process was that he was thrilled to be in that position—in the points lead and entering the finale with a shot at the title—in a full rebuild year. He made so many changes to his program, between moving across the country to his training off the bike, to his riding technique on the bike, where he rides at during the week, and more, and still had such a strong year. Thinking long-term, he knows there is still room for improvement, and he can come back even better in the future. Making it through the year healthy was the goal. The wins, podiums, and everything else was a bonus.
At the Washougal National, Hammaker had one of his best rides in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship to date. He rode home a seventh in the first moto then got a great jump and was out front off the gate drop in the second moto, running a solo second for a majority of the race. Eventually, he was caught and passed late by championship leader Haiden Deegan, but the #56 came through in third place. And this came while riding through a banged-up body, as he deals with shoulder and knee injuries.
His 7-3 finishes landed fourth overall, a new career best in Pro Motocross. It was just his second top five overall finish, besting his fifth place (7-5 moto finishes) from the 2023 Southwick National. This moto podium was just the second of his Pro Motocross career, with his first coming at the High Point National in mid-June.
Seth Hammaker's Two Top Five Overall Pro Motocross Finishes to Date
| Position | Race | Class | Date | Bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Motocross Unadilla | 250 | August 16, 2025 | Kawasaki KX250 |
| 4 | Motocross Washougal | 250 | July 19, 2025 | Kawasaki KX250 |
| 5 | Motocross Southwick | 250 | July 8, 2023 | Kawasaki KX250F |
Hammaker was interviewed on the SMX Insider Post-Race Show, which you can watch below (with the interview starting around the 3:00 mark).
Then, Hammaker gave the following quote in the post-race Kawasaki release.
“Overall, it was a pretty good day. I started off strong in qualifying. I felt really good on the track and ended up third overall, so that gave me some good momentum heading into the motos. In Moto 1, I didn’t get the best start and was probably around 10th off the line. It took me a while to get into a groove and settle in, and by the time I did, I was in about seventh place. I wasn’t really able to make anything happen after that, so I just held on to seventh for the rest of the moto. It was nothing too special, but still a solid finish. Moto 2 went a lot better. I got an amazing start and pulled the holeshot. I felt really good in the opening laps. Jo [Shimoda] got around me early, and I was able to latch onto him and keep a solid pace. Then [Haiden] Deegan got by me with a couple laps to go, and I ended up finishing third. With a 7–3 result on the day, I took fourth overall, my best outdoor finish so far, which is pretty cool. I needed a solid day like that, and this definitely checked the box. Now the goal is to come back after the break and fight for a podium. I think this little break will be good for me, and I’m excited to come back swinging at Ironman.”
As far as the rest of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, Garrett Marchbanks led the charge with 3-4 finishes for third overall, his first overall Pro Motocross podium; then Hammaker in fourth overall; Drew Adams finished 13-6 for ninth overall; and Washougal’s own Levi Kitchen was 11th overall with 9-10 finishes. Adams landing ninth overall was his first overall finish inside the top ten in Pro Motocross for the rookie as he continues to build. Kitchen's Washougal results have not been great, despite the fact that he grew up just minutes from the track. His overall results at this track are fifth, sixth, and 11th, respectively.
Drew Adams
"Just wrapped up Washougal with P9 overall — my first top 10 outdoors, which is a big milestone for me. Qualifying went well, but I picked a bad gate in Moto 1 and got buried off the start. I worked my way up to 13th, but it’s definitely a tough track to pass on. It was my first time racing here, so it was cool to get the experience — the shadows were darker than Dade City at night, which was pretty gnarly. In Moto 2, I regrouped, got a better gate pick, and started around seventh. Had some solid battles mid-moto and finished sixth. Overall, I’m pretty happy with the day."
Levi Kitchen
“A bit of a rough day for me. Qualifying was decent, but in Moto 1 I got a bad start — probably around 20th or 25th — and worked my way up to ninth. Moto 2 was kind of the same story. Tough start again, but I was up to about sixth or seventh before I went down. Got back up and finished around 10th. Definitely not the day I wanted, but I’m keeping my head up. I know what I need to work on — mainly getting off the line better. We’ve got a solid break now, so I’ll use that to reset and come out swinging for the last three rounds. I’m ready to show people what I’m really capable of.”
Levi Kitchen's Washougal National Overall Results
| Position | Race | Class | Date | Bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Motocross Washougal | 250 | July 19, 2025 | Kawasaki KX250 |
| 6 | Motocross Washougal | 250 | July 20, 2024 | Kawasaki KX250 |
| 5 | Motocross Washougal | 250 | July 22, 2023 | Yamaha YZ250F |
