It has been an up and down summer for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen. He started the season off with bad starts and a derailed chain at Fox Raceway, leading to a 16th overall. He then went on a four-race podium streak, with four third place finishes in a row. At RedBud it looked like it could be Levi’s day as he charged hard from a first lap crash to second in the first moto, but more crashes in the second moto left him off of the podium in seventh.
This started a mid-season slump for Kitchen, who finally found his way back onto the podium at the series finale at Budds Creek. So, what was the difference? He explained to Steve Matthes after the race some of the changes that were made:
“Yeah, I have almost had to race that way this year, coming through the pack. Honestly, the day was a win for me," he said. "Obviously, I want to be even better but the whole day started out better. We did a change with the bike, some mapping and gearing and man it really made a big difference. I’m super excited it felt like a big relief because the starts today were better. Before the red flag that first moto I was seventh then the second moto I was maybe fifth. So, way better than it has been and it's good for me to keep building. Jo [Shimoda] and Haiden [Deegan] obviously they have been up front all year, so their pace is really high. But a few of those races like today and I will get back to that pace, so I am not really worried about that.”
Kitchen spoke further on these bike changes in the post-race press conference saying, “We found some stuff for the bike before this weekend that helped a ton. Actually, press day was the first day I was on it, and I was so excited to race today. I still didn’t get unbelievable starts, but they were so much better, it was better on the track. I think that’s why the result was the way it was today. I look forward to SMX now and I have a little confidence, yeah.”
Coming into the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross, Levi was considered a title favorite, after winning three rounds in 2024. But at the Daytona round of Monster Energy Supercross Levi suffered a horrific crash that resulted in a broken back. Of all the injuries to come back from spinal injuries may be one of the worst both physically and mentally. Levi has been pretty quiet about his recovery all summer but finally mentioned to Matthes after Budds Creek:
“Honestly, I don’t ever want to be the one that complains about anything, but I will say after that crash at Daytona I was pretty mentally... like a little messed up from it. It kinda scared the shit out of me. And then throughout the year, the training I have had to adjust a little bit because even right now, it's been a long outdoors and my back it still bothers me. I haven’t been able to golf which has pissed me off. So, it's going to be really good after SMX, take some time, get healthy. Obviously, I am going to come in swinging for SMX, but next year also.”
Again, in the post-race press conference Levi expounded further saying, “It definitely takes a lot [recovering from injuries], this one took the most out of me. It was more mental than anything, it kind of was a scary crash… It was good at the beginning of the year but after flying and travel, it becomes a long season. You could say I am looking for a break after SMX, because even right now I still have pain in my back. But it takes time, it's going to get better, especially with time.”
Luckily for Levi, time is on his side as he has two more years with his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team. And though Levi is looking forward to a break to let his body recover he plans to be ready for the SMX Playoffs in a week and a half, as he told Matthes, “I would say now that we have some things figured out, going into SMX, dude I am going to work on going f#%^ing fast. That’s all I am going to worry about.”
Even through battling an injury and bike settings Levi was able to score five overall podiums and finished fifth overall in points. If he can truly set his focus on his speed now, his competition may be in trouble for 2026.
| Position | Rider | Hometown | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Haiden Deegan | Temecula, CA  | 502 |
| 2 |  Jo Shimoda | Suzuka, Japan  | 454 |
| 3 |  Garrett Marchbanks | Coalville, UT | 352 |
| 4 |  Levi Kitchen | Washougal, WA | 327 |
| 5 |  Tom Vialle | Avignon, France  | 288 |
