LEVI KITCHEN - GRIT 261 250SX

GRIT-261 | 250 SX

August 27th, 2024 3:00 pm

The talent of Levi Kitchen couldn't be denied...and following a notable qualification effort on Saturday, few in the crowd would bet against him as the green flag waved for moto one. His style aboard the Kawasaki machine was next level, and through the opening stages of the aforementioned race, Kitchen exemplified what it meant to be a factory rider. His starting position of second was commendable, where he avoided a disastrous pile-up that occupied numerous contenders. Haiden Deegan was out front, and Kitchen would do his best to try and overcome the gap that the Yamaha rider was constantly extending...but the red-plate holder was flourishing on this Maryland circuit. All the while, he was aware of where Honda's Chance Hymas and Tom Vialle stood...and could sense them approaching closer and closer to his rear wheel, as the race neared its end. Though Kitchen's corner speed seemed to be a notable trait that kept him within the runner-up category - until lap traffic began to factor into the equation, and deterred the Washington native from the pace he aspired for. And then amid the final minutes of the moto, the pack of opponents including the aforementioned Honda and KTM rider(s) would surpass him...gaining immense time on the Kawasaki rider within the roller section that preceded the finish line. He would eventually descend to fourth, but remained in front of Julien Beaumer - all the while, Chance Hymas' last lap mistake enabled Kitchen to gain one further position on the leaderboard, propelling him to third as he exited the raceway; remaining in the hunt, for an overall win! A phenomenal start for the Washington native would be displayed in moto two, where the athlete aboard the number forty-seven machine seemed unstoppable as he took the hole-shot and aspired to break away from the field. The sprint to the checkered flag was conducted with an exceptional prowess, and he seemed to locate the most efficient lines on the racetrack while keeping his engine surging at the highest RPM's. Through the quarter, and halfway mark(s) of the moto, Kitchen could sense that Chance Hymas, and others, were constantly seeking to track him down...but he remained aware and rather bold aboard the Kawasaki chassis - launching from the largest of leaps with his mindset focused on the checkered flag which awaited at the finish line. Honda's Chance Hymas would inch rather closely to his rear wheel on more than one occasion, but Kitchen combatted the tactics of the Idaho native with swift cornering of his own...which led to a notable trek to the race's conclusion. In the end, Levi would have a large enough lead that he could look back through the final trek of the swaying rollers - proceeding to stroll through the moguls with confidence, and as the overwhelming sense of accomplishment accompanied his final leap, he was designated as the overall winner upon heading to victory lane...via the final moto victory!

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