Levi Kitchen earns first professional motocross win

Levi Kitchen came into the 2024 Washougal National last weekend with plenty of momentum seven days after posting one of the biggest victories of his motocross career.

Kitchen, a Washougal native and member of the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki racing team, posted his first AMA Pro Motocross Championship victory at the FXR Spring Creek National in Millville, Minnesota, on July 13.

“We’ve been working really hard to get back to this point,” Kitchen told reporters after the race. “It hasn’t been easy because when you’re not up here (on the podium), people quickly forget you. But I knew we had it in us to get back to the front, and it feels amazing to get this first overall win as we head into my hometown race next weekend.”

Kitchen struggled to maintain that momentum during the Washougal National, the eighth race of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. After placing 12th in the first moto, he took fourth place in the second moto and finished sixth overall.

“(It was a) tough day at home for me,” Kitchen later stated on Instagram. “(I) had very low energy and couldn’t keep any food down. (I’m) really excited for a little break to reset. Thank you, Pacific Northwest fans, for having my back, even on the bad days.”

Kitchen hasn’t experienced many “bad days” in 2024, however. With three races remaining in the 2024 outdoor season, the Washougal native sits in third place in the 250 Class standings, behind only Haiden Deegan, who won the Washougal National, and Tom Vialle.

Kitchen also also sits in second place in the 250 Class standings for the SuperMotocross World Championship, a comprehensive 31-race season the combines the winter AMA Supercross Championship, which takes place on man-made racetracks in major stadiums across the United States from January to mid-May, and the summer Pro Motocross Championship, which visits the most iconic rural venues in off-road motorcycle racing from late-May through August.

“I finally made it happen,” Kitchen said after the FXR Spring Creek National. “It has been a long time coming, and ever since that third-place moto finish in the RedBud (National in Buchanan, Michigan, on July 6), it was game-time. I focused solely on intensity throughout the week coming up to Spring Creek and everything fell into place.”

The Washougal native won both motos at the FXR Spring Creek National to post the first outdoor victory of his career in dominant fashion.

He said that in both races, he “made crucial early passes and managed to keep up with the leaders, which allowed (him) to capitalize on (his) opportunities.”

“It’s been a bit of a struggle (to start the season), and people quickly forget when you’re not up there,” he told reporters after the race. “I’ve been working really hard and trying to get back to where I belong. The last moto was fun because you could really ride around on the track and just had to be patient. It feels great to get this done.”