main content of page
Racing News |
MONSTER ENERGY® PRO CIRCUIT KAWASAKI RIDER LEVI KITCHEN SCORES CAREER FIRST IN MILLVILLE
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (July 14, 2024) - Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen earned his first career Pro Motocross win with a commanding (1-1) performance. Teammate Ty Masterpool showcased resilience, recovering from a first turn mishap in Moto 2 to secure eighth place overall (8-10). Jason Anderson qualified in the pole position on his Monster Energy® Kawasaki KX™450SR and maintained a consistent performance, wrapping up the day with a 5th place overall finish (4-4).
Spring Creek MX Park, nestled in the Mississippi River Valley along the Spring Creek stream, boasts some of the richest soil in the Pro Motocross circuit. The track is famous for its steep hill climbs and dramatic elevation changes. Its soft dirt and notorious sand whoop section, combined with summer heat and Midwest humidity, make Spring Creek MX one of the most challenging races of the year.
During the morning qualifiers, Kitchen and Masterpool started their day strong, with Kitchen securing second place and Masterpool in 12th. In Moto 1 of the 250MX Class, Kitchen on the No. 47 bike and Masterpool on the No. 29 both launched from the gate in third and fourth positions. Kitchen swiftly moved up to second place and began challenging for the lead. Throughout the race, Kitchen maintained a consistent three-second gap to the leader while staying on his lines until a pivotal mistake by the race leader allowed Kitchen to seize the lead. Meanwhile, Masterpool made a few errors that dropped him to seventh, but a late surge before the challenging whoops section propelled him back up to sixth. As Kitchen continued to lead the race he had to respond to intense pressure from behind after tipping over, but showed strength and determination to hold the lead to the finish line as the checkered flag waved, with Masterpool finishing in eighth. Shortly before Moto 2, a thunderstorm swept through, causing a delay and riders and teams scrambling to prepare for wet conditions. When racing resumed and the gate dropped, Kitchen positioned himself in the Top 5 once again. Masterpool was caught in a first turn pile-up and had to remount from 39th position. The constantly changing track conditions presented challenges with mistakes scattered across the field. However, once Kitchen found his rhythm, he started advancing from seventh place towards the front of the pack. Methodically overtaking competitors, he closed in on the leader and began shadowing him each lap. Timing his move perfectly, the No. 47 swiftly passed the leader down the steep descent of Mt. Martin to claim the lead, which he held onto to secure his first Pro Motocross overall victory. Meanwhile, Masterpool faced an uphill battle but maintained focus, eventually advancing to 10th place where he would finish.
In the 450MX Class, rider No. 21 on his KX™450SR started his weekend strong by claiming first place in qualifying. In Moto 1, Anderson began with a solid start in fourth place and stayed close to the leaders during the initial laps. Throughout most of the race, he consistently held a gap of less than four seconds from third place, skillfully navigating the deteriorating track to finish in fourth. In Moto 2 of the 450MX Class, Anderson shot out of the gate and immediately secured third place. Despite the demanding track conditions offering multiple line choices, Anderson maintained a consistent pace each lap. As heavy rain approached near the end of the race, Anderson made a final push, ultimately crossing the finish line in fourth place, securing fifth place overall.
“I finally made it happen! It has been a long time coming and ever since that third place moto finish in Redbud, it was game time. I focused solely on intensity throughout the week coming up to Spring Creek and everything fell into place. In both races, I made crucial early passes and managed to keep up with the leaders, which allowed me to capitalize on my opportunities. Overall, I'm pleased with my bike's performance and my fitness level, also excited to head back to my hometown to put on a show in front of my friends and family.”
Levi Kitchen
“Today was tough for me. I couldn’t find my groove in qualifying on this tough track. In Moto 1, I got a good jump out of the gate and tried to maintain my position, but I kept making little mistakes here and there. The track was brutal all day and then the thunderstorm rolled in and made the second moto even more challenging. I got another good jump out of the gate, but got caught in the first turn crash and had to start from way back. I stayed composed and made my way back up to 10th which I am proud of after being down on the ground for quite some time. Time to regroup and go for it next weekend. Thank you to the entire Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki team for keeping everything dialed all weekend.”
Ty Masterpool
“I felt great in the morning on my KX™450SR and qualified first, which felt good heading into the motos. In Moto 1, I got a good jump out of the gate and thought I had more pace on the guys in front of me, but a few mistakes caused me to stay in that fourth spot all moto. In Moto 2, I had an even better jump out of the gate and maintained pressure on the top guys the entire race, but stayed consistent and finished just outside the Top 3. Overall, I am happy with the direction we are going and I am looking forward to more racing.”
Jason Anderson
