race recap
LEVI KITCHEN | GRIT-209 | 250SX
February 20, 2023 · Levi Kitchen
LEVI KITCHEN | GRIT-209 | SX 250
Generating quite the buzz amongst the professional industry, the ultra-talented Levi Kitchen would return to action in Oakland. He'd been on the top step of the podium in weeks prior, and yearned to fight amongst the top of the leaderboard from here on out...beginning with a performance in Oakland. The Yamaha rider's lanky build aboard the 250F would allow him to maneuver the chassis in a multitude of ways while staying creative on the technical circuit. Whether by scrubbing various singles, or wheel-tapping his way through the whoops and dragon's back, Kitchen would put the field on notice as he headed into the night show. His start for his heat race would be less than what was desired though, and could only manage to garner a thirteenth by the time the first lap would conclude. His vision was a factor that made him persevere amongst the rest though, and as he weaved through the field of opponents, he would quickly realize that he was within the top five. Passing Mitchell Harrison for fourth, it was then the veteran (Matt Moss) who occupied third. But with time beginning to expire, Kitchen's progress would end here prior to beginning the main event. His green-flag registry for the finalé was a bit better though, and as he gathered the ninth-place standing he felt as if he could move forward from here without losing "too" much time. The rhythm lane before the finish-line would be covered with grooves, which nearly caused his Yamaha frame to stick aboard the face of the final tabletop on a number of occasions; though his bike skill was paramount in his infiltration of the top-six shorty thereafter. And around that time, he could see Pierce Brown within the crosshairs of his vision, knowing that he could hang with the Utah native while proceeding to march forward with confidence. The two would get into a battle royalé, with each showing little regard for their fellow opponents resumé; and it was with patience, that Kitchen waited patiently as Pierce Brown made multiple mistakes. His largest of those occurrences, would arguably occurred when there were only seconds remaining. Which resulted in a gift (of sorts) being granted to Kitchen on Brown's behalf. It was Kitchen's resilience though, that kept him plugging away toward the front of the field, and as the dust settled in Oakland, few could refute Kitchen's fourth place overall.