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00:00First pro motocross race in America. He was second fastest. Where will he slot in? He is the point leader
00:06in the European-based FIM MXGT Championship.
00:10And shout out to Max Bolin, Rocky Mountain ATV MC Privateer Profile. Solid battling around the top five of the
00:18Club of X Yamaha last week.
00:20Not the full factory machine, but Max still very capable. And you see that red number plate just as a
00:25glimpse.
00:25The number 10 of Seth Hamaker. Won the opening round of the series two weeks ago. Solid last week. He's
00:31the championship leader coming in.
00:33But still a lot of questions to be answered with the young racers in the 250 class. 30 minutes and
00:38two laps away. Here we go.
00:47And I think it's Hamaker going to get the jump. Yes, the number 10 leads them.
00:51We've got the 82 of Caden Dudney. A rookie right there. And Julian Bomair on the 13th. Been great to
00:57start the season. Is quickly in second.
01:00Yeah, if you're Seth Hamaker after a tough second moto last weekend, you wanted to rebound in a place where
01:04you've been at a lot this year.
01:06Winning the first two out of three motos. Two out of four motos, excuse me. Seth is on point at
01:12this one.
01:12But he's got a number 13, Julian Bomair right behind him. We've been riding great this beginning part of the
01:18season.
01:18On the podium last weekend is Bomair coming back from a devastating back injury.
01:23And honestly might be riding better than ever. The rider on that orange Red Bull KTM out of Arizona.
01:30As for Hamaker, three hole shots this year. Three times he's got to the first turn first in five races.
01:37Yeah, it looks like Nick Romano's up behind him in that fourth position, Levi Kitchen, there.
01:43So Sasha Kunin's only a couple of positions back. But yeah, Jason, this class is wide open.
01:49I love these guys. Any one of these guys in the top 10 can win this race for sure.
01:54We've got Nick Romano out of New York in fourth.
01:56And that great monster producer to Kawasaki.
01:58And the fans get their first look today at the 250 class.
02:02Make it moves. It's Romano.
02:03Great pass by Nick. He saw the opportunity. We just saw it in that 450 class, how many ruts are
02:09there.
02:09So Nick felt more comfortable. He was able to make that pass up in that third spot.
02:15He got Dugney on the 82. And now Levi Kitchen, you could argue, is maybe the fastest rider so far
02:20this year on the 47.
02:22But has had to make some passes and he's doing it again.
02:25Yeah, great start for Levi. Even Joe Shimoda. I saw him in between lunch break.
02:29He said he's been feeling good, riding good, but he needed a better start.
02:33Well, Joe is able to do it as Sacha Kuna goes down in front of us.
02:37Ah, tough break for the visitor there from Europe.
02:41A couple other riders down. That is McClure on the 352.
02:44So now Kuzan on that 109 is buried.
02:47So Shimoda was the rider at the number 30.
02:50That's the Honda HRC Progressive Machine.
02:52He passed Kitchen, which is not easy to do, to get to fifth.
02:57Yeah, I think if I'm Levi and Joe, I've seen this story before as we're going to try to highlight
03:03Sasha here.
03:05Gets a little off balance. Oh, he collides with, I believe that's Casey Cochran right there.
03:11Yeah, just a racing incident. Both those lines came together.
03:14It was up in the air, so the bike got light. Tough break for Sasha.
03:18Look at Julian Bomair from second, putting heavy pressure on Habegger for the lead.
03:24He has yet to win a moto in this series, but he looks like he's watched the lead right now.
03:30Yeah, Julian's been riding. I feel like even that first race, being on that podium, the second race was even
03:36better to me.
03:37And obviously he's coming out here with his third races there and forgot who hasn't raced that much during the
03:41motocross.
03:42He's showing a lot for us, JT.
03:45He is. And just when I watch Julian, he just seems like he's so carefree, kind of like he's racing
03:50with house money.
03:50You know, there were no expectations.
03:52A lot of people weren't sure if he would ever race again coming off of that huge crash in Charlotte
03:57last year.
03:58So it's one of those situations where he doesn't feel any pressure, and he's certainly riding that way as he
04:03continues to put pressure on Habegger.
04:05Let's go to Will.
04:07I was talking to him earlier, and just to kind of help you on your point there, this was a
04:12life-changing injury.
04:14Some injuries obviously just set these guys back.
04:16Some of them impact them big picture.
04:18And this was a back injury.
04:20It was, will I be able to race my dirt bike again?
04:23Will life ever be normal again?
04:25And talking to Juju today, his perspective on his sport and his life has completely changed.
04:30And he said he lives very much in the moment now.
04:33He said, because we don't know what tomorrow's bringing.
04:35We do not know what the next week's bringing.
04:37So what's the point in looking at big picture championship when I don't know what the end of today looks
04:42like?
04:42And it's working for him, James, because he's managing to stay in the moment.
04:46And it's a challenge for many riders to be able to just focus on what they're doing.
04:50And he said, honestly, it's been good for me, which is an incredible perspective to get when you've been through
04:55such a tough injury.
04:56Yeah, it is.
04:58I mean, as both of you guys mentioned, even riding just looks a lot calmer.
05:02So, you know, I feel like it helped just manage to up and down the flow between having a great
05:08moto to a bad moto.
05:09It keeps you more consistent because, obviously, you're just happy to be here.
05:13And you understand that there's a lot more to life, especially with something you love doing is getting taken away
05:19from you.
05:19Anytime you get a chance to do it, you're blessed for it.
05:22You're happy.
05:23And Julian's showing that.
05:24And clearly, this kid knows how to ride a motorcycle.
05:26Perfect scenario for him.
05:28Shimoda was rolling up on this group, James, but he went down from the fourth place spot.
05:33And we can show you what happened to the number 30, the rider out of Japan.
05:38So, that'll move Chinchin into that number four position.
05:41And Shimoda, definitely a title contender this year, but this is going to hurt.
05:45Yeah, watch him.
05:46He's going to get in this, lean that bike over.
05:48And just as that rut is so long, he started losing his rear foot.
05:52Just basically pulled him off the motorcycle.
05:55It's like we might.
05:56Oh, Kunin down again.
05:59That's great for him.
06:00That's what happens when you get in a bad start.
06:02Not being able to really see, you know, I'm assuming that he's in the pack.
06:06And these ruts are long here at Thunder Valley.
06:10So, unfortunate there for Sasha.
06:12Two crashes will move him back.
06:14So, you got that green number 10 of Hamaker still holding on under fire from Bomer.
06:20And an army of green Kawasaki's around Bomer.
06:23Romano is third.
06:24Kitchen is fourth.
06:26That team, Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki, was the dominant team in this sport for a long time.
06:31But it's been a good 10 years since they've had that type of success where they're putting multiple bikes on
06:36the podium, multiple bikes in the top five.
06:39But so far this summer, we've seen this quite a bit.
06:41Yeah, we have.
06:42And a lot of questions to me is, is Kawasaki Pro Circuit back?
06:46And, you know, I think where they're back from is what you just mentioned.
06:49They figured out their last couple years have been some issues.
06:52They needed to work on engines.
06:53They needed to continue to build because Star Racing and these other teams are there.
06:57Kawasaki has went to work and now their whole team, you're starting to see it with a fluctuation.
07:02All these riders out here up front, whole shot, teammates battling.
07:06And that team is back.
07:08Now it's up to the riders, put them per second back on that top.
07:12Romano battling it out with Kitchen just to illustrate that.
07:14So, yes, Star Racing, the Yamaha team, really started to take control about 10 years ago and has won the
07:20majority of the titles in this class.
07:22You see, before that of the 2015, it had been the Pro Circuit Kawasaki team that was the dominant factor.
07:29But Pro Circuit looking to get it back right now.
07:31They're running first, third, and fourth, one and two in the championship.
07:35And we thought the Yamaha Challenge would come from Cole Davies today, the fast qualifier.
07:40But he has a bad start, and the New Zealand native is in 13th, so not a factor in this
07:45one.
07:46Yeah, I was looking at that, the first lap, I believe he's on the outside of the top 20.
07:50But the last couple laps I've been looking, and he's only made a couple spots,
07:54which only tells me how difficult this racetrack is to pass.
07:57No matter how fast he was in practice, a bad start here goes back to my point.
08:02Really managing it, a bad start here, it'll ruin your whole day.
08:07JT.
08:08Guys, this is so impressive from Nick Romano, and he's been a story every single weekend.
08:13You see Levi Kitchen make a small mistake.
08:15But this is a guy who basically lost his opportunity in the sport.
08:19He had to resort to buying his own motorcycle, practicing with the established pros,
08:24and hope for another chance after he lost his ride with Monster Yamaha Star Racing.
08:29And look what he has done with it.
08:32He has been a perennial guy in the top five.
08:34Yes, he's dropped back a little bit at the end of the races, at the first rounds.
08:38But every single weekend, he's put himself in positive positions, and he is slowly improving.
08:43And this is truly a renaissance season and part of his career reach.
08:47Honestly, JT, he's rescued his career.
08:49This is the only, you only get one more second chance, and he is making the most of it.
08:53And it's actually Kitchen, who's battling him right now, that went to bat for him.
08:58They're good friends off the track.
08:59They ride together.
09:00And he put in a good word when the team had an opening due to some injuries.
09:04Got Romano on the team, and now he's got to fight him for third place as Havaker continues to roll.
09:11But still, that orange number 13 of Boehmer applying pressure.
09:16Yeah, no, it is.
09:17And it's a great story by Nick, you know, just to spend the more on him.
09:21It's kind of like a player in the NBA, their own one team, all this hype, and it doesn't work.
09:25And then they end up getting devoted of going to a different team, and they seem to find that spot.
09:30I do believe the way the Pro Circuit team, maybe the last few years of struggles,
09:35maybe it's not so much pressure compared to how they start racing.
09:37And when Nick got that opportunity, everybody's trying to trend up, and Nick's going along with him.
09:44So perfect team, perfect scenario for him, and that's why he's in third place.
09:47A rider out of Queens, New York.
09:49But like a lot of these riders, does his riding and training down in Florida.
09:54That is the same thing for Havaker, the leader out of Pennsylvania.
09:57And the Cavalry, well, they're working together.
09:59Now the two Kawasaki riders, Romano and Kitchen, looking to make moves up home air,
10:04and Romano might have it.
10:06What a pass there.
10:08Julian's up in that corner, maybe just relaxing a little bit.
10:11Nick put that power down, said, give me that pass.
10:13He took it.
10:15Well, Romano started the year two weeks ago in this Pro Motocross Series.
10:19Good starts, beginning to fade back.
10:21But we're starting to see now some real staying power, and Kitchen is going to follow him forward.
10:25Got it.
10:27Yeah, Levi's that guy.
10:28We saw it in the first couple races where, I mean, he has that speed,
10:32and he continues to close down on these guys.
10:34So he's probably the dangerous man.
10:35If I'm seven, that's who I'm looking at, the number 47.
10:39Going back to that Pro Circuit Kawasaki, they're going one, two, and three.
10:43And side by side now, Kitchen and Romano.
10:47Yeah, if I'm Levi, if I'm going to try to get around him right now, but if not,
10:52if Nick continues to continue that pace up to Seth, then I want to get around him because of the
10:56roof,
10:57but I won't try to slow him down.
10:59I'll let him climb his way up.
11:00But if Seth's starting to get away, you're going to see that number 40 dive on the inside.
11:03He's not able to make it.
11:05Oh, no.
11:05Oh, and he got it wrong.
11:07Just able to save it from a crash.
11:09It's the 47 of Kitchen.
11:10Yeah, that's the same corner we saw Joe Shimoda go down in.
11:14Joe was on the outside.
11:15These corners, what happens is they start getting a hook shape, like an L shape into it.
11:20So you saw with Levi there, the bike goes in, it rebounds out, and it's almost like it gets light.
11:25They can't control it.
11:26Easy to go off on this racetrack.
11:28And it's just another challenge about how Thunder Valley, how it changes throughout the day.
11:34But it is still one, two, three for the Kawasaki riders.
11:37And Hammaker has been a sensation earlier in the year.
11:41Patting his points lead out front.
11:42Now, let's go all the way down.
12:13Now, let's go.
12:51Now, let's go.
13:12Now, let's go.
13:12Now, let's go.
13:20Now, let's go.
13:22Now, let's go.
13:24Now, let's go.
14:21Now, let's go.
14:24Now, let's go.
15:17Let's go.
15:50Let's go.
16:13Let's go.
16:40Let's go.
17:09Let's go.
17:20Let's go.
17:47Let's go.
18:14Let's go.
18:20Let's go.
18:23Let's go.
18:24Let's go.
18:27Yeah, I just go.
18:55Let's go.
18:58Let's go.
19:27Let's go.
19:41Let's go.
19:57Let's go.
20:09Let's go.
20:23Let's go.
20:54Let's go.
20:55Let's go.
21:24Let's go.
21:26Let's go.
21:30Let's go.
21:32Let's go.
21:43Let's go.
21:46Let's go.
21:52Let's go.
21:53Let's go.
22:09Let's go.
22:12Let's go.
22:25Let's go.
22:29Let's go.
22:31Let's go.
22:31Let's go.
22:32Let's go.
22:32Let's go.
22:33Let's go.
22:39Let's go.
22:42Let's go.
22:52Let's go.
22:54Let's go.
22:56Let's go.
22:57Let's go.
22:57Let's go.
22:58Let's go.
23:00Let's go.
24:53You got to drop back.
24:54I mean, just watch this lap, especially when they get to those longer sections.
24:58Like, Levi will have to drop back because you can't see because they're so long here.
25:03And you can see a rock pop up.
25:04You won't be able to see it until Seth goes through it.
25:07So a lot of things here.
25:09So then there's kitchen on that 47.
25:11As you find his strength and then use that, then get close, like right here?
25:15Yeah.
25:16So Levi's been really quick in this section.
25:18So the last lap, he went on the outside.
25:21Seth was on the inside.
25:22He was close to him.
25:23Now they're going to swap.
25:24But Seth has a good run, which is going to put him on the inside here.
25:27So Levi's got to time for his pass.
25:29So Levi's got to time for his pass.
25:29He's clearly faster.
25:30But Seth has just taken a shorter way around the racetrack on a lot of these things, which
25:35makes it difficult for Levi to make that pass.
25:37And the word everyone uses to describe the leader hat maker is exactly what you're seeing
25:41right now.
25:42Just gritty.
25:42Always maximizes his talent, his effort.
25:47You're going to get the best of him every time.
25:49So it is not going to be easy for kitchen here.
25:54Now Levi's standing up here.
25:56He's going to drop.
25:57But watch this line.
25:58Levi's going to cut to the inside.
25:59What I like about this, it straightens his next corner out.
26:02So he'll have more speed and more momentum in this next corner.
26:06With Seth's.
26:07They've got through that pretty good.
26:08But I love that line by Levi.
26:12Another line here.
26:13He's going to get in here.
26:14He's going to pull out of this rut.
26:16So he can stay out of where he made that mistake.
26:18Now he's going outside here, which is one smoother line.
26:22Not the fastest, but just the smoothest one.
26:25Great drone shots right here.
26:28And of course, motocross, one of the most physically demanding sports.
26:31So you wonder how much each one of these riders has left.
26:3425 minutes into this race.
26:36JT.
26:37Yeah, just to touch on kind of what James was saying there.
26:39You know, this track really favors momentum.
26:42We're at elevation.
26:43So the riders are down on power.
26:44And you can see Levi Kitchen.
26:46He's trying to do everything humanly possible, but touch the brakes.
26:50Right?
26:50So it's in line choice.
26:51He's sweeping around the outsides.
26:53He's just desperately trying to keep that momentum up.
26:55And he's one of the bigger, lankier riders in the class, which is not making things easier here at Elevation
27:01either.
27:01Yeah.
27:02And what makes it tricky with all these rocks, sometimes on these 250 bikes, you'll see these guys almost leaning
27:07off the side of the motorcycle, trying to avoid the roost because they don't want to shut off the gas.
27:13And they're going to lose a lot of time.
27:14So they'll stay in it getting pelted by these rocks, you know, to try to keep that momentum up and
27:19then just have to move their body.
27:21That bottom box there, quite a bit of battling going on.
27:25You got Joe Shimoda, who has rallied all the way back from a crashed fifth.
27:28And you're looking at Dudney and Davies on the blue bikes and in between them on the orange is Beaumair.
27:36Davies, the third rider in that picture, was the fast qualifier, but a terrible start and he continues to claw
27:42his way forward.
27:44Yeah, what a route by Cole Davies and even Julian to kind of recover, start pushing his way forward if
27:50they get around.
27:52Well, they're trying to get around Dudney.
27:53Yeah.
27:55And Beaumair on that orange KTM gets it done.
27:58That'll move him back to six.
28:00Davies now making a move as well.
28:02That loud rider got a hay beacon line right there on the inside.
28:05He's like, I'll stay out of the way.
28:06But, yeah, Cole knew he needed to make that pass before he got stuck behind him to keep that 13
28:13in front of him.
28:13And as we say that, we're looking at the leader.
28:16He's just starting to put some of these corners together.
28:19Levi's getting in a weird situation because now he used to have a couple more laps.
28:24His laps were running out, so now he's going to have to start pushing.
28:27And did Seth be able to break him at this point?
28:30Will?
28:31Amica looks like his confidence building, right, James?
28:34And I was talking today about his kind of expectations coming into the season this year.
28:38And he said, look, the pressure is not on me.
28:40Nobody's expecting this of me.
28:42They're looking at the likes of Joe Shimoda, Levi Kitchen.
28:45He talked about chance timers.
28:47He said, nobody's looking at me.
28:48They don't think of me as the outdoor guy.
28:50And there's kind of a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
28:52He's come second in Supercross the last two years.
28:55Super motocross last year in 2025.
28:58He's like, I can't be that guy.
29:00I have to let them know that I am good outdoors as well.
29:03And right now he's continuing to prove that here in the first motor.
29:07That's right.
29:08Well, because he has pulled away from Kitchen and now running a bit pressure free.
29:14We'll give you the full screen of Davies, the young New Zealander, trying to get Bomara.
29:19Bomara, good start.
29:20Davies, a bad one.
29:21Davies has been digging and digging and digging.
29:24He started this race in about 20th, 16th in the first lap, and now going for sixth.
29:31Yeah, this is great.
29:32Julian took a look back, but Cole was on the opposite side.
29:35And this section, you've got to start setting these passes up a corner before you see Cole Davies get on
29:40the inside of Julian.
29:42Julian's going to try to close him down, but now Cole's going to be on the inside of Julian.
29:47Whoo!
29:47Game of chicken.
29:49Yeah.
29:49And Davies is going to win it.
29:51Bomara fights back.
29:53Yeah, that pass was set up right out to the finish line.
29:56Cole Stark getting on the inside, keeping Julian guessing.
29:59And Julian kept guessing, and Cole was able to make that attack.
30:03Nice move by the number 37.
30:06And like you said, if Davies stays in this championship hunt all summer, it could be rides like this.
30:12You won't get the headlines for a sixth-place finish.
30:15But he's passed 10 riders since the first lap.
30:18You see the championship points early in this series.
30:21Right now, Hamaker would stretch his gap a little bit.
30:24But there are 22 individual motos, and this is only the fifth of the year.
30:28So plenty of time from the likes of Shimoda or Davies, Colbert, and many others to get back in it.
30:33We'll check in with the visitor here from Belgium, Sasha Kunin.
30:37Lightning fast in qualifying.
30:38Second quickest overall.
30:41But two crashes earlier in this race have set him back, and he's 16.
30:45Yeah, he's running.
30:46I mean, a decent lap time.
30:48He's up to 11.
30:49I mean, he's three, four seconds faster than the guys in front of him.
30:52But that crash, start, crash, ends with him.
30:57But I bet he's probably disappointed.
30:59But I'm telling you, when we talked to these kids earlier and yesterday, the excitement level from both brothers,
31:04I don't think they really care how they finish.
31:07They're happy to be here.
31:08And the stories you will share earlier about, you know, me.
31:11It's just, it's a blessing.
31:13But at the same time, man, it's just really cool to see them come over here and how much they
31:17enjoy being here.
31:19The championship leader in the equivalent 250 series in MXGP, but they are hoping he and his brother to maybe
31:29be able to move and race full time in the United States in the near future, maybe next year, maybe
31:33a few years out.
31:34And this is a quick way to learn how the game is played on this side of the Atlantic.
31:40Wait a minute.
31:42Levi Kitchen has moved back to the rear fender of the leader, Seth Hammackers.
31:47Yeah, Levi made a mistake there a couple laps ago, and we saw Seth might have had it.
31:53Or maybe Levi was sitting back waiting to attack.
31:55But now, I don't think he's going to wait, you know, to let this thing play out once he's getting
31:59to him.
31:59If he wants to win this race, he's going to jump on him no matter what section he is.
32:03But as soon as he gets there, a little mistake there, and then Seth pulled away.
32:09Levi, right now, he's like, I'm glad that lap rider's in front of him because he knows that's going to
32:13keep Seth a little occupied.
32:15He's going to close him down, and Seth might know, is this guy going to go inside or outside?
32:19Levi, this is an opportunity.
32:2130 minutes into this race, James.
32:23What is it like when you've got to dig, give your best?
32:26When you're 30 minutes, the heart rate's probably been, what, 180, 190 for a half hour, and now you've got
32:31to have your best?
32:32Oh, it don't matter.
32:33It's heart attack time, I hear.
32:35Yeah.
32:36Yeah, I mean, truthfully, I don't think that any of these guys are tired.
32:41Okay.
32:41I mean, the way they're riding, and sometimes you get in a flow as Levi.
32:44Oh, he's going to flow down.
32:46All right, he's going to probably go outside.
32:48Seth's going inside.
32:50Let's see if he can get out of this rut, get alongside his teammate.
32:52There he goes.
32:53To the inside!
32:55Levi Kitchin to the lead!
32:56Ah, what a pass by Levi.
32:59Running that line now, whole race, and as I said earlier, it wasn't the fastest, but it was smooth.
33:04And one lap, no quick.
33:06And he is sprinting toward the white flag.
33:09Levi Kitchin saving the best for last.
33:13The rider out of Washington State, hammering down.
33:16And the last lap by Levi Kitchin was the fastest lap of the race.
33:21At a 2.08, three seconds faster than his teammate.
33:24Honey, the Kitchin wide over there.
33:28Check.
33:28Not tired.
33:29Not tired.
33:31Impressive.
33:32Especially racing at 6,000 feet of elevation.
33:35Now, Michael Moseman, who had rallied to third, went down.
33:38He has dropped fifth.
33:40Joe Shimoda, who had a crash early in the race.
33:42The rider out of Japan, has moved back into the number three spot.
33:45This fight is just behind Shimoda.
33:48You've got Romano in green in fourth.
33:51Moseman and Davies are the next two riders through in that green gear.
33:56Yeah, this would be, if somehow Cole can at least get one of these guys,
34:00maybe even both of them would be great.
34:01Not only for the championship, but also this overall today.
34:05So, great ride by Cole Davies.
34:07And marches way all the way back up in the top ten.
34:09Be close to maybe possibly fifth.
34:12That's showing a lot for the number 37.
34:15Moseman and Shimoda both had problems in this moto,
34:17but good recoveries from them.
34:21And Moseman and Davies part of possibly the biggest race
34:25team ever seen in this sport.
34:26They have often eight, nine, ten riders under that tent.
34:30They have a pro debut today for a 16-year-old named Carson Wood.
34:35He's quick at the test track.
34:37They decided to see how it would go at the pro rank.
34:40Struggling a bit in this moto in 27.
34:42But they have so much talent under that tent.
34:46But so far this year, it has been the Kawasaki riders getting the jump on everyone.
34:51A lot of laps led again for Seth Hamaker.
34:53But it is Levi Kitchen who won the race in California last weekend.
34:57Back up front again.
34:59Yes, he is.
34:59I believe this race is even more impressive than that first one he won.
35:03Which is the way he did it.
35:04Making that mistake on a tough race track.
35:06And to really close down on Seth with two laps left.
35:10Seven seconds.
35:11Take it away, Jake.
35:14What'd you say?
35:15Kitchen's open?
35:16Absolutely.
35:17The chef's cooking today.
35:19Waited to the end for the charge.
35:21And now the checkers for Levi Kitchen.
35:27Championship leader Hamaker will maintain that early season point lead with a solid run in second.
35:32He's been the best starter in the class by far.
35:34And that is paying off with some consistent rides.
35:37And Joe Shimoda, crash and all, still going to take third.
35:41Yeah, great comeback from Joe.
35:45It looks like Romano in a whole top in fourth over Davies.
35:52Moe's been there as well.
35:54That's Levi on top.
35:56Let's go.
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