SMX Playoff Ridgedale: Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) is 250cc champion

3rd SMX Playoff in Ridgedale: Red Bull KTM factory rider Julien Beaumer, who was nominated on the sidelines of the race to represent the US national team at the Motocross of Nations, clocked the fastest lap time in qualifying and started from pole position. Pro Circuit Kawasaki factory rider Levi Kitchen, who went into the race as championship leader, was 0.3 seconds slower on his fastest lap, finishing third.

250 Qualifying Ridgedale

1. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 1:15.001

2. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, -0.051

3. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, -0.317

4. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, -0.382

5. Landen Gordon (USA), Yamaha, -0.682

Cole Davies wins Race 1

Levi Kitchen took a big risk by starting from the first gate. He went flat out at the end of the start straight and took the holeshot ahead of Nate Thrasher (Yamaha). Kitchen built up a lead of more than two seconds early on. Halfway through the race, Thrasher, who was in second place, crashed, and Cole Davies (Yamaha) moved up and closed the gap on Kitchen. In the final minutes of the first race, the New Zealander launched his decisive attack. Davies overtook Kitchen and won by a margin of 2.1 seconds. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) finished third in the first race, with Julien Beaumer (KTM) fourth.

Kitchen keeps control in the rain

A heavy downpour fell just before the start of the second race. Although the rain eased off slightly during the race, conditions remained tricky. Cole Davies took the holeshot and led ahead of Levi Kitchen and Landen Gordon. The other two title contenders, DiFrancesco and Beaumer, crashed and found themselves outside the top 10. Davies quickly pulled clear at the front and controlled the race with a lead of up to ten seconds at times. In the end, Davies won the race by 6.4 seconds ahead of Kitchen, who played it safe as second place was enough to secure the title. Landen Gordon finished third and, with a 6-3 result, reached the podium for the first time.

First professional title for Kitchen

After narrowly missing out on the championship on several occasions, Levi Kitchen was crowned champion for the first time. For the long-established Pro Circuit team, it was their first title since the 2019 Pro Motocross season. Kitchen finished the championship 24 points ahead of DiFrancesco. Day’s winner Cole Davies moved up to third place overall thanks to his double victory.

Levi Kitchen wurde in Ridgedale SMX-Champion der 250er-Klasse

Foto: AMA

Cole Davies gewann das dritte SMX-Playoff der 250er-Klasse in Ridgedale

Foto: AMA

250 Results Ridgedale

1. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, 1-1

2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 2-2

3. Landen Gordon (USA), Yamaha, 6-3

4. Nate Thrasher (USA), Yamaha, 7-4

5. Pierce Brown (USA), Yamaha, 5-7

6. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 4-9

7. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, 3-10

8. Daxton Bennick (USA), Husqvarna, 10-6

9. Cameron McAdoo (USA), Kawasaki, 13-5

10. Caden Dudney (USA), Yamaha, 8–11

250 Final Standings SMX 2026

1. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 153 points

2. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, 129, (-24)

3. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, 128, (-25)

4. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 119, (-34)

5. Landen Gordon (USA), Yamaha, 104, (-49)

6. Nate Thrasher (USA), Yamaha, 99, (-54)

7. Daxton Bennick (USA), Husqvarna, 98, (-55)

8. Pierce Brown (USA), Yamaha, 89, (-64)

9. Jo Shimoda (J), Honda, 86, (-67)

10. Kayden Minear (AUS), Yamaha, 84, (-69)