Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Levi Kitchen rebounded in the second moto at Washougal to finish P3, but the 250MX contender was admittedly ‘hoping for better’ at round eight of Pro Motocross.

Kitchen has again shown flashes of speed and potential this year, notably finishing second in race two at Thunder Valley and winning the final encounter at RedBud.

Come Washougal and the number 43 qualified 12th fastest, before battling for the top-five early in the opening outing. A technical issue around the halfway point shuffled Kitchen back to P8, where he would ultimately finish the race.

A strong start in the second race saw the YZ250F rider slot into second behind teammate Justin Cooper, later holding off red plate-holder Hunter Lawrence to take the checkered flag third and land fifth overall on the day.

“The first moto was a bit of a struggle,” Kitchen recalled. “I was in a dog fight for a while and then had an issue and went backward a little bit and ended up eighth.

“The second moto was better. I got off to a good start and pressured Justin for a while, and then I lost touch with him for a second. As soon as I lost touch with him, Haiden [Deegan got around me, and then I had to fight Hunter off for a while.

“I ended up third in that moto, which I was hoping for better, but I’m healthy, and I’m excited that I finally got to race Washougal. I was just a click off today, but it’s okay. We’ve got a break, so I’m going to do a little fishing and be ready for Unadilla!”

Kitchen enters the current Pro Motocross break sixth in the 250MX standings, with action to resume at Unadilla on 12 August.