Slaw Dog
Through two rounds of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, Levi Kitchen appeared to be the main challenger to Haiden Deeagn for the 250 title. Kitchen could have won the opener at Fox Raceway, but hey, a runner-up finish was more than fine. He followed it up with a podium at Hangtown and then, yeah, the wheels feel off.
He went 5-9-7-6 over the next four rounds and the title was long gone.
Then he comes out and goes 1-1 at Spring Creek for his first career overall. Was it his newly shaved head giving him the much needed turn around?
Not exactly.
According to Kitchen, who is in first year with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki, it was a bike problem.
“The bike in all honesty,” he said according to Racer X. “I don’t ever like saying that, but, yeah, round one, it was pretty good because Pala is probably the slowest track on the circuit, but we got to these faster tracks, I was way too soft. Yeah, I’m finally getting more comfortable. Even though it seems like I’ve been on the bike a long time, and I have, but on outdoors, you know, it’s definitely a little different than the Yamaha was. So, it’s getting a lot better though. I’m stoked on it now.”
I have no problem with this. Watch MotoGP or F1 and you will hear all the time about bike/car problems. I know it is taboo to talk about this stuff in our little sport, but sometimes (NOT ALL THE TIMES) the bike can be a problem. Especially when you are on a new team and bike. Why can’t we have these conversations? We should and I fully support it.
