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00:00...across this year. Frives are up. Gates down.
00:07Seth Hamaker trying to control it from the inside, and he does.
00:12So he's got his teammate Nick Romano there with him.
00:15And Caden Dudney as well in the 82 and the second.
00:18Great start by Seth. We know how strong he is and how fast he is.
00:22So there's a great start by the pro circuit.
00:24It looks like there's some star racing Yamahas in there. Great start by him.
00:27Two rookies, Dudney and Gordon.
00:30But then around the outside is Romano, fill-in rider for the team.
00:34Didn't even have a ride about six months ago up to second.
00:37Look at Dudney, the outside line working for him.
00:40Yeah, he wants to go in this 250 class. He's opening lapses. Control chaos.
00:43These guys are going everywhere. They want that track position.
00:46Great to see him up here fighting. It's not too much. It's not too wet.
00:50So I think these guys can be racing. If not, if you're not moving forward,
00:53you're going to be moving backwards as this guy tries to make the pass.
00:55Well, yeah, they're battling. Yes, Romano is going to get Dudney.
00:58Oh, down from fourth. I think that was Ryder DeFrancisco.
01:01How about this battle? Dudney and Romano side-by-side three, four times already.
01:07Yeah, you can see the gap starting to open up.
01:09But Levi Kitchen got a bad start.
01:11If you're watching Dax get back on the racetrack, or Ryder D.
01:14Really fast in practice. But Levi Kitchen got a horrible start.
01:17He made a lot of moves, and I believe he's in four.
01:19So it just shows you that confidence that he's been carrying from that practice.
01:24I'll show you some confidence.
01:26Look at Nick Romano, the pride of Bayshore, New York, in the city.
01:31Now has completed the pass on Dudney, and has started to make tracks toward his teammate, Hanager.
01:37Yeah, I think this race, as this first couple laps, it starts settling down.
01:41The problem about this 250 class is that every, you go back, it doesn't get any easier.
01:45If you think you let one guy pass, you have five more behind you.
01:48So you might as well stay up front.
01:50But good job by Dudney.
01:52You can settle down in his third position and try to regroup.
01:54Yeah, you called it, James.
01:55The 47 is already on the radar.
01:59Bad start didn't even matter with Kitchen.
02:02He's moving forward, challenging Dudney, JT.
02:05He is, and it's just, it's interesting to watch Dudney and Romano battle there.
02:08We talked a little bit about this during Monster and Supercross.
02:11But remember, Romano was on Monster Yamaha Star Racing,
02:14and he lost his spot to give room to riders like Caden Dudney and Landon Gordon.
02:19You see Kitchen make a move there.
02:20So when Romano goes by them, you know he's got a little extra incentive to make the move.
02:25That's a great point.
02:26Yeah, Romano was one of the young stars of that team.
02:28Oh, mistake by Kitchen.
02:30That allows Dudney, now one of the young riders on that team, to move back up.
02:35Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a lot of back and forth.
02:37Just one simple mistake, but I love what I see from the 47.
02:40He's been firing all day long for practice, being that much faster.
02:44And when you have that built-in speed, you can be a little bit more patient.
02:48Levi doesn't look like that.
02:49The kitchen is wide open as he's watching his teammate get away.
02:52So try to make quick work of the rookie, Dudney,
02:55and see if you can close that gap to the lead.
02:57Still a nice bounce back for Dudney.
02:59He made his pro debut in Monster Energy Supercross, and it did not go well.
03:04In fact, after a couple of rounds, he stopped racing Supercross to refocus on this.
03:10And it's going much better here in Pro Motocross with this early run for third.
03:14A rider who was an amateur, again, just a few months ago.
03:18But honestly, the big upset is Romano out there.
03:20Wasn't even sure if he was going to race motocross for the Pro Circuit team.
03:24It's Drew Adams out with injury for the moment.
03:27Romano got the call to stay with the team, at least to the early rounds.
03:31Keep riding like this, he's going to be with him all year, running in second.
03:34Yeah, and these kids, you know, they're young, so it's a lot of pressure for him.
03:38But they also understand that if you don't perform, there's another guy that's ready to take it,
03:43as you just mentioned, with Romano out here.
03:45So I think they've got a lot to work for.
03:47He's got his hands full with Levi Kitchen, but early in this race, he'll be fine.
03:53Kitsch are going to reset and go back after Dudney.
03:56Here is Romano.
03:57So, yeah, let's drop on the star team.
03:59They got hurt immediately last year, was out for a long time.
04:03Said he had a couple of smaller teams calling him to race Supercross,
04:07but he just had faith that a big factory-level team was going to eventually call
04:12when they needed help.
04:12They did.
04:13He's making the most of it.
04:14Another pass.
04:15Kitsch is back around Dudney for third.
04:17Yeah, you can't try again, but, again, Levi has a lot of speed built in.
04:22So, you know, he can be patient, wait his time, because he knows ultimate.
04:25He's faster than those guys.
04:26But right now, it's a Kawasaki Pro Circuit, one, two, three.
04:29It's been a few years since we've seen something like that.
04:32It's a great sound for these guys.
04:34Yeah, a little throwback there.
04:36This was once the dominant team in this 250 class.
04:39Right now, one, two, three.
04:40Feels like old times out here for them.
04:44Dudney going to try to hang on.
04:45Now, he opened some eyes, finished seventh in a moto last year,
04:48Dudney, when he first tipped his feet into the pro ranks late last summer.
04:53And that was actually done only to get him in under the age limit.
04:57The pro minimum age has moved up to 17 this year.
05:02But if you raced one last year, you're automatically grandfathered in.
05:06So they had him race one last year.
05:07He opened up some serious eyes.
05:09Hey, Unadilla, raced one more.
05:10And that experience paying off for Dudney.
05:12But here comes the cavalry, Landon Gordon, another one of his young teammates, and Cole Davies.
05:18Yeah, you're a Supercross champion.
05:19It doesn't stop after that.
05:21You know, it continues to go.
05:22But I think the good part about this is that these kids, they're prepared coming in here.
05:27So, you know, even though they're young, they're really prepared, JT.
05:30They are, and you know, as you see that Bradfordville, Florida, as the hometown for Landon Gordon,
05:34that's a little deceiving.
05:36Yes, he's located there because that's where the Monster Yamaha Star Racing training facility is.
05:40But he's a California kid.
05:41He's surely spent a lot of time here at this racetrack on this type of dirt, this type of terrain.
05:47So don't let that Florida address fool you.
05:49This is more of a home race for Landon Gordon.
05:50I don't think there's anything wrong with Florida address, whatever it is.
05:54He's doing good.
05:56But, yeah, the whole star racing, as you mentioned, their facilities up in Tallahassee area.
06:00So he's got to change that license to Florida.
06:04Yeah, you know, he's logged a lot of laps on this track.
06:07Yeah, we're not saying it.
06:08Native Florida guy.
06:09That's totally fine.
06:10They've all headed your way, James.
06:11So this is pretty impressive for Dudney and Gordon.
06:14Look, we talked about how big the opener was for the title contenders to start at the right foot.
06:18What about these young guys?
06:19It's huge.
06:20It's huge.
06:21And especially like Landon Gordon, you know, at one point you would almost, in no disrespect,
06:26maybe he was one of the weakest ones on here.
06:29But, you know, injuries, the opportunity, got his first podium this year in his second race during Supercross.
06:35So clearly he has that confidence.
06:37He's just got to continue to build, and this guy can be up here.
06:41Battle continues between the Yamaha boys up front.
06:44Look at this.
06:45Nick Romano, can he go to the lead?
06:47He is catching Hammaker.
06:48Yeah, this is actually a good thing for Nick because it's been a while since he's been up here, if
06:54ever.
06:54So the fact that he's got his teammate right in front of him kind of keeps that pressure, keeps his
06:59goals focused.
07:00And now you're starting to see this field's going to close up.
07:03Levi Kitchen still with that speed.
07:05Everything's going good.
07:06I suspect a lot of things are going to change over the next couple laps.
07:09Senator Will.
07:11Guys, I'm looking at Seth Hammaker up front here.
07:14I had a conversation with him earlier about just kind of like where he's at mentally.
07:18He's had to overcome injury.
07:19He's coming back from an injury.
07:21There's through his trap now.
07:23And he's suffered a lot over the last few years.
07:26I said, where are you at?
07:27And he said, what I've learned to do is basically kind of care less.
07:31He's like, I care so much.
07:33But I need to sort of let that go a bit.
07:35I said, okay, so you care?
07:37How can you change that?
07:38Because you live for this.
07:39And he's like, well, I can change it on the back end of things.
07:42And Stu, he talked about just being able to learn to let things go.
07:46He's like, so I care.
07:47I want this.
07:48But when it doesn't go right, or if the bike is not perfect, or if I am not physically perfect,
07:53I just have learned to move on from that.
07:55Just let those things go.
07:57And that's just kind of a bit of a mentally freeing process for Seth here.
08:00Hopefully it will work for you, Mary, as he starts to attack his promoter first championship.
08:05Yeah, no, I understand it completely, what he's saying.
08:08And it's weird, because he's like, I want to care less because I care too much on there.
08:12But what he's talking about is more perspective, you know, where he was a couple years ago,
08:17being injured and not really sure if he ever gets to this level.
08:20I think that perspective of knowing that helps him continue to get out here and fight.
08:25And so far, in the last couple years, Seth has been here,
08:28and I suspect he's going to be here all year long for championships.
08:31Yeah, where you've seen that really pay off is the consistency.
08:34He was always a fast but crash guy.
08:36He has been very consistent the last two years, but he knows he has company.
08:40I look over the shoulder.
08:41It's his teammates, Romano and Kitchen.
08:44Unbelievable stat here.
08:45The last time this team swept the podium was at this track 15 years ago with Blake Baggett, Tyler Rattray,
08:53and Dean Wilson.
08:53It's been 15 years since a 1-2-3 for Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki.
08:58But they've got at least the riders in position right now.
09:01You see Joe Shimoda, one of the expected contenders, at the bottom, back at 8.
09:05Yeah, there was a struggle for a few years with Pro Circuit, just a lot of injuries.
09:09But I think that also shows you that when you get, you know, the alpha dog out, the opportunity for
09:14these guys, they ride together.
09:16So when one teammate's doing great, it just raises level with everybody else.
09:20Just like the NBA, you've got to make your teammate just as good, and that's the successful of a great
09:25team.
09:26And now you're starting to see that with Pro Circuit.
09:28You saw it over the years for a star race in Yamaha.
09:30Great to see you, Mitch Payton.
09:32And they've pulled away from the Doug D. Gordon rookie battle.
09:35Davies, about a second behind that in sixth.
09:39Lux Turner riding very well, both in qualifying and in this moto.
09:42And then it's Joe Shimoda, JT.
09:45It is Joe Shimoda.
09:46You know, Joe has been so consistent.
09:48He was fantastic last year in this championship.
09:50It really has been for a while.
09:52And when you contrast the way Joe goes about his racing versus a lot of the other riders in this
09:57class, thinking who can be champion.
09:59Well, Joe seems to find a way to be there week in and week out.
10:03And the other guys, Seth Hemaker in the past, Chance Hymas, who's trying to fight through the pack, they've been
10:08known as what people call a cow.
10:10It's crash or win.
10:12And that is really difficult to be in a championship contention late in a series if that's your MO.
10:17If you crash or win, guess what?
10:19The weekends where you crash, you lose too many points.
10:21And a guy like Joe Shimoda, racking up podiums week in and week out, he can have his way with
10:26his title.
10:27JT, are you talking about me?
10:29Crash or win?
10:30Because I heard that statement about my career.
10:32Oh, no, never.
10:33No, we never said that.
10:34Ain't nothing wrong with that.
10:35Turn the volume down.
10:36Yeah.
10:37Hey, play SMX for cash.
10:39Go to NXTVest.com or just scout that flow code on the screen right there.
10:44Try to make your picks as this new pro motocross championship begins.
10:49Certainly, this guy was looking good for folks.
10:51The 47 of Levi Kitchen from qualifying with a ton of speed.
10:55And we're seeing it now.
10:56Yeah, it's a great sign.
10:58Normally, Levi have these rising.
11:00But we talked to him.
11:01You know, it was kind of laughing over a couple years ago.
11:03And I mentioned to you, Levi would win that first moto and then get 13th to the next one.
11:07And you'd be like, no, he kind of wrote the same.
11:09Did he crash?
11:09No, but I think what you're seeing this early in the season is the Levi that I wanted to see.
11:15He's got that everything rolling.
11:17His teammates are in front of him.
11:19And clearly, he has the speed.
11:20He looks good where he's at, Will.
11:22I'm just thinking back, James, to last year when I spoke to Levi.
11:27And he was at that point, like, middle of the season when things weren't going particularly well.
11:31He was suffering after that back injury.
11:33If the bike wasn't set up, they weren't where they were supposed to be.
11:37Starts weren't good.
11:38The team was struggling with that.
11:39And he had his eyes already on this year, this championship.
11:43And part of that was the exit of Hayden Deegan.
11:46He knew the bike would get better.
11:47He knew he physically would get healthy again.
11:50What does it do to these guys when they know it's more possible than it perhaps was before?
11:56I mean, I think you're seeing it right here just from the whole standpoint.
12:00And it's not that, you know, Levi was afraid of Hayden Deegan or he didn't think he could win.
12:04But he knew how great Hayden was.
12:06And with his race team, you need everything working for you to be able to compete at this level.
12:11And when you know one part isn't working, you know, you've got to start looking towards the future.
12:15But I love what I see.
12:16The whole team stepped up.
12:18Levi stepped up.
12:19And, you know, we're only a few minutes into this race.
12:22But it looks good for him.
12:24But talking to Levi yesterday, he has a pretty unique perspective of this wide open storyline that everyone is talking
12:30about in this class.
12:31Here's Levi.
12:33I feel like a championship is wide open no matter what year it is, like whether obviously there's always people
12:38that are favorites.
12:39But, you know, people can go out in the first or second round or things happen, you know.
12:46I mean, it's just I don't like to go in with the mindset that it's wide open because no matter
12:52what, it's never wide open.
12:53I mean, we're all going fast.
12:56I feel like, like you said, a couple of us have won races.
12:59There's going to be others that are going to feel that they can win, obviously, this year.
13:05But I think my chances are good, obviously.
13:09Joe and Chance, I think theirs are good, too, if we're the only ones who have won.
13:12So that's cool.
13:15I'm excited.
13:18I get what he's saying.
13:20I mean, it is wide open.
13:21But we know, I mean, if I oversleep, then that means I'm going to take my kids to school.
13:25So that's a possibility of possibly happening.
13:27You know, but Levi.
13:29Shimoda makes a move on Locks Turner here, by the way, for seven.
13:32Yeah, go ahead on Levi.
13:32Yeah, you know, Levi knows he's got to be there, and he's always had the speed.
13:36But, you know, Joe Shimoda, it was a little awful practice, and we were kind of concerned on, you know,
13:41not only he's missed some time in having to rush, but just how he feels, you know,
13:46possibly being a little scared, timid with his injury as we're watching the battle up front.
13:50I think this is going to be a great thing for Joe because this is what he does.
13:54He always moves forward.
13:55He has that heart.
13:56And maybe because the speed's not there, he just marches his way up.
13:59I think we'll get a better version of Joe Shimoda, that confidence to come back,
14:03and he'll be up here battling with these guys.
14:05Looks like Kitchen made the move, James, on Romano now.
14:08So he's up to second, and still about two seconds behind his teammate Habaker,
14:12who has yet to win a moto in his career in pro motocross.
14:17So let's see if today is the day for Habaker, who had a lot of physical issues that slowed him
14:22in his early development in motocross.
14:24He's got a lot of that behind him, clearly.
14:27But still, we're not even at the halfway mark, so a long way to go to prove how strong he
14:33could be.
14:33Yeah, we're not, but I also think, like, when you're looking at Kawasaki,
14:38this is probably their best two opportunities, Handmaker and Kitchen.
14:43So we're going to watch Kitchen goes up the inside right here.
14:46I think things are probably going to start happening a little fast for Nick.
14:49He hasn't been racing all year long, so kind of unless his teammate has it, have it.
14:54Levi was probably going to have it anyway, but still a great ride by him.
14:58We have now reached the halfway point, and I can remind you,
15:02stock up on Monster Energy at Stater Brothers.
15:05Now, what's interesting about that pass, Kitchen and Romano are really good friends off the track.
15:09When Romano didn't have a ride months ago, he got a bike at Kawasaki
15:13and was just riding with Kitchen to try to stay somewhat ready in case the phone call came.
15:18I've got to imagine Kitchen was putting in a good word to the team owner, Mitch Payton,
15:22to give Romano a look.
15:23That has certainly paid off with a good run for him, but Kitchen's got to go.
15:27Left Romano behind, he's going for the lead.
15:30Yeah, Kitchen's on.
15:31You know, I can tell by his body language, I mean, he's really smooth.
15:35He feels good, and he's got a lot of equity built up in that speed.
15:39Seeing Joe close in.
15:40I believe this is Landon Gordon right here.
15:42So as I said earlier, Joe will continue marching his way up here.
15:46He could have ran it in, but I'm too early in the race for that.
15:49But I think Joe's probably going to get him here pretty soon, the way he's moving.
15:53So if this is Gordon, it actually means Davies, as you see,
15:55the results on the left side of the screen has moved ahead of him.
15:59So Davies kind of quietly up into fifth.
16:03This is sixth and seventh right now with the rookie Gordon and Shimoda.
16:07Yeah, Joe's good.
16:09Some parts of this racetrack, you just got to sit back.
16:11Now it opens back up.
16:12See Joe can rail this outside or cut back in there.
16:16Starts the Landon Gordon.
16:17Starting to sit down a little bit to be expected.
16:20Long race, you know, first race is always tough for these guys.
16:23But overall, Joe and both these guys are doing good.
16:26Well, I talked to Landon Gordon yesterday, and he said really he was never on a full training program
16:31when he lived out here in California.
16:32He'd ride, but nothing fully structured like he now has with this Yamaha team.
16:38But he's only about eight months into it.
16:40So he feels like he's got a lot more to give as far as getting stronger, building his endurance.
16:44He's hanging on right now against the pressure of Shimoda.
16:48Then it's Turner, Bennett and Nate Thrasher riding out the top 10.
16:52And Kitchen continuing to take a few tenths out of the lead of Hammacher.
16:57Yeah, I mean, for a lot of our viewers, they seem to be by Kitchen Rod.
17:00And he's really all over the bike.
17:02You know, really lose, slamming in his stuff.
17:03But watch his body language.
17:04He's standing up, you know, just relaxed and not really over rushing himself going into the corners.
17:09And that's why I said he looks really relaxed to me because of that speed he's had, speed advantage he's
17:14had over these guys.
17:14He can take his time and just go to work on Seth because he knows if I need to put
17:19down the lap, I can close that gap pretty easy.
17:21Maybe put a little pressure on his teammate, get in that lead.
17:25So when you're in Kitchen Situation, you start to know he'll come back to me.
17:29I don't need to rush it right now.
17:30I'll get there.
17:31Yeah, no, Levi knows he's on speed wise, he's got his teammate.
17:35You know, that's why you'll see this little cat and mouse.
17:37You know, it's not because Seth's really pulling away.
17:39I think it's because Levi's just sitting back.
17:41But what he's also doing is taking, you know, breathers.
17:44And in his first race, as I just mentioned earlier, it's easy to hold your breath.
17:49It's a big difference from Supercross.
17:51So I think a lot of things are going on.
17:53Besides just racing the racetrack, Levi's just taking his time.
17:56And when it comes to it, I think he'll attack his teammate.
17:59How about Romano still there in third?
18:01That would be a career best for him if he can hang on to it.
18:04His best is a fourth.
18:05Shibota and Gordon still going for it.
18:09Joe makes it happen.
18:11Yeah, Joe put a little game of chicken rat there.
18:13He, you know, swore over there like, are you going to do it?
18:15He backed out of it.
18:17So it took him a while.
18:18He was working on it.
18:19But you see this, you know, Levi's standing up in the corners.
18:22And as I mentioned, he's got that speed, but he's also saving a lot of energy.
18:26Seth doesn't know that.
18:27So it makes you nervous behind you.
18:29And you start getting that mental will spin.
18:31Things are starting to happen really quick.
18:33Great position where I'm at if I'm Levi Kitchen.
18:37And 11 minutes and two laps to go.
18:40Still Hamaker.
18:43Leading laps.
18:44Never won a photo.
18:46And at the moment, looking good.
18:48Yeah, look at both these guys looking good.
18:50And he just showed you how good Levi's been riding all day because they gaffed the rest of the field.
18:56I mean, Nick's in almost 10 seconds behind him.
18:58And then our Supercross champ Cole Davies is 13.
19:01So it's not like, you know, they just got out front.
19:04They built this lead.
19:05So it's been a great ride.
19:07They both have speed.
19:08But I love the 47 in his body language.
19:11It looks very relaxed.
19:12Get a little style for him, Levi.
19:14All right, let's hop on board and watch this play out.
19:29So again, even though the gap hasn't really closed,
19:33you still feel like Hitchin has some level of control here.
19:35This is Gordon and Turner.
19:37So Lux Turner, whose career best in Emoto is in 11th,
19:41looking to move into 7th that he hasn't.
19:42Oh, he moved into 7th.
19:45Look really good.
19:47We're going to watch his sister next weekend.
19:49I can't wait to watch that.
19:50So, yeah, great ride for all these guys.
19:52And again, they sense the opportunity.
19:54Would hate be going to be it now?
19:56Who knows what can happen?
19:58And I think Lux is going to have a breakout year as he did last year.
20:02He'll be even better this year.
20:04Got to imagine Lux is written here a lot.
20:06He's from Reno, Nevada.
20:08Not too far in motocross terms as far as a road trip to this track.
20:11Check out the riders for the fly racing gear.
20:14Turner is tops right now at 8th.
20:16We've got Heinrichs at 11th.
20:19Schwartz, Volenshock, Ross.
20:20This is your fly racing athlete's kitchen.
20:23Now about, I believe, to put an attack on Hamaker.
20:27And Hamaker made it easy.
20:28Yep, there it is.
20:29That's what I was saying with Levi.
20:30Put your teammate in that mental will spin.
20:33You know, have him starting to think.
20:34You know, Seth doesn't know.
20:36He doesn't know if Levi's, you know, trying really hard or doing what he did.
20:39As we got our lap rider just a little whiplash in the background.
20:44But great move by Levi, JT.
20:47Yeah, and James, I would not be shocked to see Levi put in his best laps of the race right
20:51here.
20:51If he can really drop his pace, maybe get back into that 220, 221 range for two or three laps,
20:57that will be enough to break the back of Seth Hamaker in this moto and ride the last few laps
21:01uncontested.
21:03Yeah, absolutely.
21:04And you can start to see that gap, as you were saying, Jason, he was just sitting back.
21:09There are certain parts of this racetrack you can't pass.
21:11So, you know, sit back, get your teammate, relax, send a little false hope, and then you attack it.
21:15And that's exactly what Levi did.
21:16And he's already starting to bridge that gap over his teammate.
21:21Hey, I know it's only one race, but we kept saying how up for grabs this is.
21:25But you dominate qualifying.
21:26And then you just completely have this first moto charge under control.
21:30That has got to be doing wonders for him under the helmet.
21:32No, it is.
21:34As we go back to Cole Davies trying to get, you know, around his old teammate and Nick,
21:42it does a lot for guys, but it does even more for certain guys.
21:46And I think Levi is that certain guy.
21:48We always know he's had that speed.
21:49It's just got to get off the gate.
21:51And we see how deep this field is.
21:53Cole Davies got a decent start, but he's almost, you know, 13 seconds back.
21:57And, you know, just the difference of starters.
21:59Cole tries to go up the inside of this Nick.
22:02Battle for the podium.
22:03Davies almost had it outside, worked out for Romano, at least for the moment.
22:09Yeah, still a great ride by Nick.
22:11You know, if nothing happens, I'm thinking Cole's probably going to get by him.
22:14He's caught him.
22:15Nick's starting to sit down, but still, you know, not riding all year.
22:19Kind of a fill-in.
22:19This is a great ride.
22:20And if he can ride this thing with a top four, top five, I'm sure Mitch Payton would be super
22:25happy.
22:26So will Nick with you.
22:27Yes, Mike Clinch.
22:29A ride all summer for Romano right here.
22:31As of now, it's just the early rounds while Drew Adams is out.
22:34But they'll find room if you're fast, no doubt.
22:37And running third right now definitely proves something.
22:40It's a good run for Davies.
22:43Yeah, even though Cole is our Supercross champion, a lot of expectation.
22:46He could be your title.
22:48He's definitely a title contender, but he might win this championship.
22:51He's also really young.
22:52He got hurt last year, so he only did a few outdoors.
22:55Got an overall last year, but I think, you know, Cole's very, you know, technical.
23:01Takes his time as he takes his time off the inside of Nick.
23:05He can finish on third.
23:06That'd be a great moto for Cole Davies.
23:08Well, there goes the stat.
23:09This is potentially the first Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki moto sweep since 2011.
23:14But now that has been broken up by Davies.
23:18Still a great ride for the squad, a great ride by Romano.
23:20But Davies, okay, look, it's not the dominant runs like we were seeing
23:25in Supercross, but I've got to figure this is not a bad position to be in,
23:28just getting rolling.
23:30No, I think Cole's doing a great job.
23:32Again, the way this field is and the way Levi's riding,
23:35if you don't get up there with him, like, you can ride great and get beat.
23:38You know, that's the way it is.
23:39So just because, hey, Deegan's gone and some of these other guys,
23:43there's a lot of speed out there, and both these guys were able to beat
23:46Hayden last year at one point.
23:48So speed's not an issue.
23:49It's just by being there week in and week out.
23:51So Cole Davies, top three, I'm sure he'll be happy with that.
23:55And after Davies, trouse the field in Supercross,
23:59I think everyone's just looking for some sign that he can be the same guy in
24:02motocross, and it won't take much.
24:04I think everybody already knows how talented and how good he can be.
24:07This is a sign that he can be just as good outdoors.
24:10They just haven't seen it in America yet, but at least so far today,
24:15they've all got a long way to go to catch this guy.
24:18Yeah, this guy's good on this five and a half seconds
24:20and looks really comfortable doing it, saving a lot of energy,
24:24and that's the hard part, your competition.
24:27Levi's not riding that hard, so he'll be built up
24:31compared to where you've got Chance Hymes fighting his way up with a bad start.
24:35He's going to be battling all the way to the end,
24:37so you've got to look at towards Levi having a little bit more fresher legs.
24:41But rough start for Chance.
24:42I don't know where he was at opening lap, but trying to crack that top ten,
24:47not the first moto he wanted to have, but keep moving forward if you're all right.
24:51No, it's a rider who's had a lot of speed.
24:53Again, the fast qualifier at this race a year ago,
24:55and now just trying to get into the top ten, battling Gordon.
24:59But so many of these riders, including Hymes and his teammate Shimoda,
25:03are coming back from injury,
25:05so you never know what those first race jitters are like.
25:09At the moment, he has at least put that Honda into the top ten.
25:14Here's Hymes on his physical update coming back from injury.
25:18Yeah, my body's feeling 100%.
25:20Shoulders feeling good.
25:21Big thanks to Dr. G and Yvette Brioche for, you know,
25:26getting me dialed in and the folks over at Red Bull.
25:30Yeah, just overall, body's feeling 100%.
25:34Been back on the bike for a couple months now, a few months.
25:38Just doing team testing and putting the motos in, so, yeah, I'm feeling good.
25:42Yeah, it's great to hear that, that he's healthy.
25:44You know, but certain riders, you know, when I'm looking at Chance Hymes,
25:47if you were to say he hole shots and just runs away,
25:50like, that would be expected.
25:52What I want to see from Chance is what he's doing right here, a bad start.
25:55I want him to grind his way through the field.
25:58Get up, hopefully, a top five or a top ten.
26:00That's what we're looking for, and that's that belief that I think will carry him.
26:04The speed has always been there.
26:05He can win any of these races, but the grind is what I want to see.
26:09So, great start.
26:10Looks like we got Max Anstey.
26:12The grind for him.
26:13Had that big crash in qualifying.
26:14I don't know if this is related to that or not.
26:18Yeah, he's got a little dirt on him, so at some point,
26:21something didn't happen the way he wanted.
26:23Good to see him riding off a tough bond first moto for Max.
26:26Yeah, not a good way to start the campaign.
26:28So, there's Hymes up to ten.
26:30About two seconds behind Thrasher, who is at nine.
26:33And then quietly, a good run for Dax Finnick, running eight on the Rockstar Husqvarna.
26:38There is Anstey talking to his mechanic, Austin.
26:44That's when you're a rider, when you're like that, you talk real slow.
26:49Just talk real slow.
26:50You want your mechanic to be like, just go back, son.
26:52It's all real slow, a little body movements.
26:54But Max is one of the toughest guys I know.
26:56That tough hit early in practice.
26:59You can see the little dirt on him.
27:00He took another one.
27:01Hopefully, he'll be back for that second moto.
27:03Ah, bummer for the very likable veteran out of England,
27:07who had several years when he's living in Europe,
27:09where he wasn't racing supercross at all.
27:11So, a lot of people wondering just what would be his level here in motocross,
27:15where he has more experience, really, than almost anyone in this field.
27:18Did not get to see it today.
27:23Okay, so we talked about riders coming back from injury,
27:25and we always ask them how long they've been riding.
27:27Are they prepared physically?
27:28But what about that first race jitters thing?
27:31That's probably a lot harder to measure.
27:33No, it is.
27:34And that's what's impressive about this guy.
27:36You know, the speed, if you came here and been slow,
27:39it would have been a disappointment if you wouldn't have had a great finish.
27:41So, to come out here and look as good as you did with all that pressure is great.
27:45But then, at the same time, I think it helps, as I was saying,
27:47with Joe Shimoto, maybe there is a lot of pressure.
27:50You are a championship contender.
27:51Getting a bad start kind of resets that focus
27:53and allows you to find your groove without being up front where Levi.
27:57You only want to be up here if you feel confident in your belief
28:00as he makes a little mistake right there,
28:02or you want to be in the pack to where you just kind of move forward
28:05and build yourself.
28:06Two ways of getting it done.
28:09Next battle to watch here is Gordon,
28:11who has drifted back out of the top 10,
28:14and good to see Julia Bomer and the Red Bull KTM,
28:17the Orange 13th back at the races.
28:19That was a devastating back injury for the playoffs last year.
28:25He told me yesterday at the first doctor he went to,
28:27he said 12 months before you can even think about getting on a motorcycle.
28:31And here he is.
28:32That was September.
28:33And in May, he's back not just riding, but racing.
28:36It was fast and qualified and trying to close in the top 10.
28:40Yeah, us riders, when we hear news like that,
28:42we don't want to be like, okay, cool.
28:43We'll be like, all right, have a nice day, Doc.
28:45Where's the next one?
28:46We don't want to hear that kind of news.
28:48Will?
28:50Yeah, nine months all up was what he told me then.
28:54That was three months, Jason, in a back race,
28:57and then an additional four months with all of that hardware in that he had there.
29:01And then he came to a really tough decision.
29:03This was back in April.
29:04Keep the hardware in, but the risk is, James,
29:07if you take a bad crash, that could cause a break sort of either side of that metalwork in there,
29:12or take it out.
29:14But if he felt pain when he got back on the bike,
29:17when he takes that hardware out,
29:18then he misses the start of Pro Motocross.
29:21So a massive gamble there for Gigi.
29:23He spoke to the team of Red Bull KTM.
29:25He said they told him, this is your health first.
29:28We've got to take that hardware out.
29:29If you miss the opener, you miss the opener.
29:31He took it out.
29:32He said he was extremely nervous two weeks later when he jumped on the bike.
29:36He felt absolutely nothing.
29:37He said, okay, I know I can line up in parlor.
29:40So he's been through a lot just to get to this round here.
29:43Yeah, that's crazy.
29:45And I'm sure that was a hard decision.
29:46But I know for Julian, because of what KTM said,
29:50and they look at your health first,
29:52makes you want to get back out here
29:53and not only do it for yourself, but do it for your team
29:55because you know genuinely they care about you.
29:58So great to see Julian out here.
30:00I'm sure it's going to take a little bit of time to knock some of the rust off,
30:02but at least he's out here.
30:04And I can't wait to see what he does over the course of this season.
30:07Yeah, last year it was very fast at this race, went four or five for fifth.
30:11But that's a much different circumstance.
30:14So when you see Bomer 12, that's solid for you.
30:18Yeah, I mean, it's solid.
30:19It's solid that the guy's even out here.
30:21You know, I think these guys overcoming some of these injuries, you don't know.
30:24It could do one or two things.
30:26It could break you mentally or it could make you even stronger.
30:29And we've seen both those things happen.
30:31You look in the 450 class of Hunter Lawrence, a lot of injuries.
30:34Look where he's at.
30:35And I think Julian, if he is pain-free, stays healthy,
30:39this is only going to make him stronger to where one day he might be up there
30:42where Levi is leading these races.
30:45Todd has expired.
30:46So under two laps to go here for Kitchen, who has put Hamaker and Davies away.
30:51still going to be a great start to the year for Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki
30:56as they look for a one-two.
30:58And Romano trying to hold on for four.
31:01That will be phenomenal for him considering his road to get here.
31:04Shimoda fifth.
31:06Yeah, great route by the top five.
31:10Romano's not out of it for the podium here.
31:11He's got Davies inside again.
31:13Yeah, I think what's happening with Cole, I mean, one of two things.
31:15Either it's the first race or he's either settled in third place
31:20or that rabbit's not in front of him, so he doesn't have anybody to chase.
31:24So it's kind of hard to move forward.
31:26Nick is still there, and he's giving life into him.
31:28Nick understands that, man, if I can get on the podium,
31:31I can make Jason right and read that stat.
31:33But it's the first time in a bunch of gear
31:35and solidify my ride for next year, too.
31:38That's right.
31:38Get it back to the podium sweep.
31:40Yeah, it was two seconds faster than Davies the last time around,
31:43although you've got to figure the 37 might catch a glimpse over his shoulder
31:47and say, all right, I've got to lock this podium down.
31:49Yeah, I'm sure he will, and you can tell by his body language
31:52that he probably was just relaxing a little bit.
31:54But that being said, Nick is really fighting.
31:57I'm really happy to see that for him, all these pro circuit guys,
32:01because he's been a few years, but a great start,
32:03and he's still closing in on Cole.
32:07You know, if you're Nick, if you have an opportunity,
32:10I would say anything goes.
32:12We know Cole's going to be up here a lot,
32:13but this could be a huge boost for him as he's letting it all hang out.
32:21He knows what the podium would mean.
32:23This would be massive, again, for a rider who is just a fill-in racer.
32:27At one point thought maybe his career was done in a flash.
32:33Turned a pro a couple of years ago, had a solid summer, a lot of top tens,
32:36then about two straight years of injuries.
32:38Got injured again at the start of last year.
32:40Thought it might be over.
32:43But what did you say about injuries, how they can build a guy up?
32:45You know if you're Amano, you're leaving nothing on the track.
32:48Yeah.
32:49Because you know this is your shot.
32:50No, and this is.
32:51And just what I was saying about Julian, you know, Nick's out here.
32:54He was able to race a few races this year, and look what he's doing.
32:57So I think for him, if he came back from this injury mentally, he'll be stronger.
33:03And he's closing in on the Supercross champ.
33:05So all these guys got talent, which is whether they stay healthy
33:08and they believe how good they are, I'm happy to see it happen.
33:12Yeah, you can see the belief right now, but the white flag is out.
33:15Davey's going to try to weather this storm.
33:17Kitchen, looking to lock down what would be his eighth career moto win.
33:21And it actually would be a career best in pro motocross for Hamaker,
33:26even if he hangs on for a second.
33:28Yeah, it's a career best, but a lot of these guys are out here.
33:31But, you know, I was looking behind.
33:33Joe Shimoda's right there behind him.
33:35So Nick's got to push because Joe Shimoda's got to pop in the screen.
33:39And we know Joe don't quit.
33:40He'll always keep fighting.
33:41And he looks better, you know, peeking on his thing.
33:44Joe looks better than he did earlier.
33:46This is what he needed.
33:47This is the Joe Shimoda that we've been wanting.
33:49I was going to say, is that not classic Shimoda?
33:51That's what it is.
33:52That's why I thought maybe if you put him out front, you know,
33:55it's a little bit different, the nerves.
33:56And he starts thinking about all the things he can lose.
33:58But you put him where Joe feels like he's more comfortable running these guys down.
34:03This is the guy that beat Hayden Deegan towards the end of Supercross
34:06and then ultimately to win that championship.
34:09This guy right there never gives up.
34:10And Nick better pick up their feet because Joe Shimoda's coming.
34:14Man, he just does not get tired.
34:17He never gives up.
34:18And remember, folks, the two-moto format, you're going to take the results of this one.
34:23They'll all come back and race another 30-minute at two-lap moto.
34:26Combine those results together for the overall.
34:28So this could affect the podium.
34:29This could even affect who wins the race this afternoon, these passes down the stretch.
34:36Yeah, and I think with this class and how deep this field is and usually the inconsistency,
34:40this fourth place that Joe is able to get around, if he's able to win the next moto,
34:44he could win the overall because a bad start, and you could end up in 10th,
34:49even though, you know, your Levi Kitchen with his feet.
34:51So Joe, it really wouldn't matter if this was the last place.
34:54Joe would be doing what he's doing.
34:55But it could, you know, be big towards that overall for him.
34:59And each point pays in the championship per moto, not per overall.
35:04So you never know how close it could be at the end.
35:06All we're trying to say here is there's plenty of reason for these guys to push to the end.
35:11Although no reason to push for the win, because this guy is gone.
35:15Levi Kitchen dominates qualifying, takes his time, goes fast when he needs to.
35:20Who's going to fire first with Deegan out?
35:23Firing first is Levi Kitchen wins the first moto of the year.
35:29Yeah, what a strong ride by his teammates.
35:33Second, Seth Handmaker, great ride by Cole.
35:38Let's see what happens behind him.
35:39But what we say earlier, you said the kitchen was open for breakfast.
35:42I think it's open for lunch now, too.
35:45Moto 2, you know what that is.
35:47Oh, that's dinner.
35:47That's dinner time.
35:48Don't worry about that.
35:48You're full right now, right?
35:49How many courses can the chef make today?
35:52Davies, as you mentioned, comes across in.
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