Cole Davies (Yamaha) wins at Unadilla, Levi Kitchen retains championship lead

Round 9 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championships at Unadilla: Championship leader Levi Kitchen was the fastest in the combined qualifying session with a lead of 0.7 seconds. Co-favourite Cole Davies took a heavy tumble in a deep rutted section, was struck by his bike whilst on the ground and initially lay there, slightly dazed. However, the New Zealand co-favourite had already set a lap time that was enough to secure him fifth place on the starting grid, and fortunately he was able to take part in the races.

Combined Qualifying, Unadilla:

1. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 2:15.262

2. Carson Mumford (USA), KTM, +0.733

3. Drew Adams (USA), Kawasaki, +1.098

4. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, +1.099

5. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, +1.180

6. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, +1.625

7. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda, +1.900

8. Lux Turner (USA), Yamaha, +2.117

Race 1: Casey Cochran takes a nasty tumble

Husqvarna factory rider Casey Cochran took the holeshot, whilst Red Bull KTM factory rider Julien Beaumer went over the front wheel in the very first corners and was forced to chase the field. Cochran, leading the race, veered sideways into a rutted section, was catapulted from his bike by a highside and initially remained on the ground.

Race 1: Kitchen comes out on top

Championship leader Levi Kitchen got off to a rather mediocre start in 7th place, but worked his way up the field step by step and took the lead from Cole Davies with around 13 minutes to go. Chance Hymas initially got the better of Cole Davies, but he also crashed and dropped back to 4th place. Kitchen eventually won with an 8.1-second lead over Davies and Carson Mumford.

Race 2: Kitchen unlucky, Davies strikes back

After the start, Kitchen, Beaumer and two other riders made contact at the end of the start straight, forcing them off the track and leaving them to chase the main field. Kitchen initially found himself down in 37th place, whilst Davies pulled away at the front. Kitchen launched a sensational charge through the entire field. Shortly before the finish, however, he was overtaken again by New Zealander Brodie Connolly, meaning he finished the second race somewhat unluckily in 6th place.

Davies wins the day’s race

Davies won the race with a 2-1 result ahead of Kitchen (1-6) and Hymas (4-2). For Davies, this was already his fourth overall victory of the season.

The battle at the top of the standings is heating up

The result makes the title race extremely exciting: Kitchen still holds a one-point lead over Cole Davies ahead of the final two races of the 2026 season. Julien Beaumer, in third place, is already 44 points behind. Jo Shimoda (Honda), who was forced to end his season due to injury, has dropped to eighth place.

Next stop: Budds Creek

Next week, the action continues at Budds Creek with the 10th round of the US Nationals. The season finale follows a week later at the Ironman Raceway.

250 Results: Unadilla

1. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, 2-1

2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 1-6

3. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda, 4-2

4. Carson Mumford (USA), KTM, 3-4

5. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, 5-3

6. Brodie Connolly (NZL), Honda, 8-5

7. Drew Adams (USA), Kawasaki, 7-9

8. Caden Dudney (USA), Yamaha, 6-11

9. Nate Thrasher (USA), Yamaha, 10-12

10. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 9-13

11. Pierce Brown (USA), Yamaha, 17-7

12. Michael Mosiman (USA), Yamaha, 18-8

250 Standings after Event 9 of 11

1. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 334 points

2. Cole Davies (NZL), Yamaha, 333, (-1)

3. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 290, (-44)

4. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Husqvarna, 275, (-59)

5. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda, 270, (-64)

6. Kayden Minear (AUS), Yamaha, 240, (-94)

7. Carson Mumford (USA), KTM, 226, (-108)

8. Jo Shimoda (J), Honda, 194, (-140)

9. Michael Mosiman (USA), Yamaha, 151, (-183)

10. Casey Cochran (USA), Husqvarna, 146, (-188)