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MONSTER ENERGY® PRO CIRCUIT KAWASAKI RIDER LEVI KITCHEN EARNS FIRST CAREER SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™ PODIUM AT PLAYOFF #1
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (September 8, 2024) - Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen secured his first career SuperMotocross World Championship™ overall podium finishing third overall (5-2) to start the 2024 SMX Playoffs at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina . Cameron McAdoo made his return to racing after successfully qualifying into the main events, finishing eighth overall (7-10). Teammates Garrett Marchbanks and Ty Masterpool battled through challenging conditions, finishing 10th (9-9) and 12th (12-11) overall, respectively. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson was sidelined from Playoff #1 due to a practice crash on Friday.
SuperMotocross Championship Playoffs kicked off at the famed zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the beginning of a thrilling three-round showdown. zMAX Dragway, known as the world’s first four-lane drag strip, has a storied history in motorsports since its opening in 2008. The venue, typically home to high-speed NHRA events, was transformed into a challenging course incorporating supercross and motocross for the SuperMotocross Playoffs. The event brought together top riders, setting the stage for an intense battle as they vied for supremacy in the unique setting of this legendary motorsports venue.
In the 250SMX class, Kitchen and Masterpool qualified strongly in fourth and fifth, while McAdoo and Marchbanks secured 16th and 18th. McAdoo then earned his place in the main events with a determined second-place finish in the Last Chance Qualifier, having narrowly missed direct advancement by way of Top 20 in overall SuperMotocross points. In Moto 1, Kitchen grabbed the holeshot, but another rider’s crash led to a full restart. On the restart, McAdoo started well in fourth, with Kitchen in seventh, while Marchbanks and Masterpool were pinched off, beginning in 16th and 18th. McAdoo held a solid fifth position as Kitchen quickly moved into sixth behind him. Marchbanks and Masterpool charged through the high-speed course, swiftly gaining positions. A mistake from McAdoo allowed the No. 47 to pass, dropping him to seventh, where he would finish. Kitchen launched a late charge pressuring for fourth, but secured fifth, while Marchbanks and Masterpool made impressive progress, finishing ninth and 12th respectively. In Moto 2, Kitchen had a strong start, quickly moving up from third place to take the lead while McAdoo began in seventh, Masterpool in ninth, and Marchbanks in 12th. Kitchen maintained a solid lead until a mistake forced him to miss one of the big doubles and caused him to drop back to second place. McAdoo kept a steady pace, staying within the Top 10, while Marchbanks, who had fallen to 15th due to a mistake, made a determined comeback. The No. 26 of Marchbanks closed in on his teammates, Masterpool and McAdoo, eventually overtaking them to finish in ninth. McAdoo and Masterpool finished just behind, securing 10th and 11th place, respectively.
With the hybrid track designs of SuperMotocross combining elements of both racing disciplines, Friday’s are dedicated to allowing riders additional time on track to find settings before Saturday’s qualifying. Anderson was finding pace early and posted a Top 10 time in the first practice before suffering a crash. Banged up and bruised, the No. 21 KX™450SR lined up on Saturday for qualifying but it was clear his body would not allow him to compete at the top level. Anderson will rest this week and plan to line up next weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.