LEVI KITCHEN

With the championship in mind, Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen was more than determined to make a statement while competing in Rancho Cordova. He knew that Yamaha’s Haiden Deegan would bring an unmeasurable sense of intensity to the racetrack, and both competitors attempted to infiltrate the front of the field as the green flag waved for moto one. Though the number thirty-eight was a bit buried within the top-ten, Kitchen instantly took over the second-place position behind none other than Honda’s Chance Hymas. Hymas was beginning to break away, but Kitchen remained solid within the second-place residency. Minute by minute, the clock continuously dwindled...and Kitchen remained within striking range of the Honda opponent. However, he couldn’t seem to topple that last bit of defense, in which Hymas was putting forth. Therefore, he remained in the runner-up position as Deegan crept forward...and the battle between the two opponents became palpable with just over twenty-six minutes of action completed. At that point, when nearing the mechanic’s area, Haiden launched from the newly built single at the highest angle of the preceding downhill slope — flying into the switchback that followed, and putting his chassis nearly into the shifter of Kawasaki’s Kitchen. Though no contact was made, Deegan had enough run and a strong enough angle, to scrub his way past the Kawasaki rider as they landed from the forthcoming tabletop — taking over second, and leaving Kitchen into third. From there, Levi would do everything possible to try and overtake Honda’s Chance Hymas for the runner-up accolade...but it was to no avail — and Kitchen was forced to reside in a commendable third place standing at the checkered flag. For the second moto, Levi’s start was equated to third — just behind Ty Masterpool and Haiden Deegan, with Chance Hymas behind him. After ten minutes of following Masterpool though, Kitchen swept to the inside before the largest triple jump on the circuit...scrubbing his way past the number twenty-nine to reside in the second place residency with only Haiden Deegan ahead. However, KTM’s Tom Vialle was a on a mission...and would surpass him (Kitchen) on the eighth circuit. Levi did his best to counter, and retaliate with unbelievable speed of his own, but it was too little in regard to comparison between he and the former MXGP champion. Therefore, he eventually propelled his way to the finish line over the next nine laps...keeping Honda’s Chance Hymas behind him — and though he was unable to overtake Deegan after Haiden’s wild crash near the end of the moto, his eventual result (of third) when paired with his first moto score, was strong enough for him to be granted third overall, respectively.