Slaw
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen was all set to race the 250SX West Region. Then he missed all the Friday media day activities ahead of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener.
He showed up on Saturday, but was dealing with an illness. While he rode the 250SX A group free practice, he never lined up for the first qualifying session. Because he only rode free practice and did not qualify for the races, Kitchen was eligible to race the East Region.
Instead of going out and trying to salvage points while sick, the team elected to send him to the East Region and move Ty Masterpool out west (Masterpool got hurt in his debut in San Diego).
Ahead of the East Region opener in Tampa on Saturday, Kitchen talked about the move east and more.
“That was unfortunate, I took about two weeks off,” he said. “As everyone knows something has been going around, I ended up getting the flu and I had pneumonia. I talked to Mitch [Payton, team owner] about it and we switched to the east. I had about two weeks of riding and I feel great, and I got to drive here this morning. It’s cool.
“I flew out to California Monday before A1, rode Tuesday and I started feeling crappy. That’s when it hit me. I think that little break might have helped me. As anyone knows once you have your base it only takes a week to get back where you were. I’m feeling pretty good right now, I’m excited, and it sounds weird but maybe I got through the nerves of the first race already because I was there!
“I’ve always wanted to do East more so but I’ve always been ready for west. Last year I did feel like the tracks that broke down more, I did better. Overall I’m happy to ride some ruts.”
Kitchen at Anaheim 1.
Images: @octopi.media
