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MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI RIDERS BRING HOME A MOTO AND OVERALL PODIUM IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (June 2, 2024) - Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen secured his second overall podium of the Pro Motocross season, finishing third (3-3) on Saturday at the Hangtown Motocross Classic Teammate Ty Masterpool fought through injured ribs in both motos, finishing 8th (6-11). Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson consistently ran up front, claiming his first moto podium of the season and fifth overall (3-5).
For the past 55 years, Hangtown has been a legendary motocross location bringing in top riders from around the world. The high-speed track is widely known for its elevation changes, severely hard packed soil and difficult off-camber turns which require technical bike handling skills and strong physical capabilities from riders.
During the morning qualifying sessions, Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Ty Masterpool and Levi Kitchen secured fifth and 13th positions. In Moto 1 of the 250MX Class, Kitchen claimed second off the start and Masterpool 18th. Kitchen maintained a solid pace a majority of the race, eventually being passed but would continue battling for second right up to the checkered flag, ultimately finishing third in Moto 1. Masterpool battled from his poor start, gaining positions each lap. Halfway through the moto, Masterpool would hit a square edge bump aggravating his injured ribs. Despite the intense pain, the No. 29 of Masterpool would continue to charge, impressively finishing sixth in the first moto. In Moto 2 the KX™250 teammates secured Top 5 starts, Kitchen claiming second and Masterpool third. Masterpool quickly maneuvered his way around his teammate, claiming the second place position. Masterpool began to charge and came within striking distance of the leader until the No. 29 would aggravate his ribs once again and began to lose his pace. Kitchen overtook second once again and began to charge for first place. Through the remainder of the race Kitchen would hold a consistent pace, eventually losing one more position before finishing third in the moto and third overall for the day. Masterpool struggled to catch his breath through the rest of the race due to the painful rib injury, losing a few more positions and finishing 11th in the moto and eighth overall.
In the 450MX Class, Anderson kicked off the weekend by securing second place in qualifying. In Moto 1, the No. 21 had a strong start claiming fourth off the start. Anderson began to charge, soon overtaking the second place position by Lap 2. The No. 21 continued to hold a steady pace until he missed a shift , causing him to fall in a turn just past the halfway point of the race. Anderson quickly remounted his KX™450SR, now in the third position where he would finish. In Moto 2, Anderson secured a fifth place start and began to charge through the brutal terrain, holding a solid pace in the Top 5. As chaos ensued around him, Anderson maintained his position briefly taking ahold of fourth, before finishing fifth in the moto and fifth overall.
