In a thrilling and unpredictable night of racing at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, Levi Kitchen emerged victorious, becoming the sixth different winner in as many rounds of 250SX East competition. His triumph came after a dramatic green-white-checkered restart, where he seized the lead from Max Anstie and never looked back.
The race was thrown into chaos when a red flag was brought out late in the feature following a heavy crash involving Cameron McAdoo. With only seven seconds left on the clock, the stoppage led to a unique situation where riders were informed that the race would resume with three laps remaining under a staggered start format. This marked the second consecutive round in 250 East racing that saw a red-flagged incident disrupt the race’s momentum.
At the restart, Kitchen took a lap to build his speed before making a decisive move past Anstie on Lap 18, securing his place in the record books as the sixth different rider to win a 250SX main event this season.
Anstie Left Wondering ‘What If’ After Losing Comfortable Lead
Despite showing grace in his post-race comments, Max Anstie had every reason to feel disappointed. Before the red flag, he had built a 7.7-second lead and had settled into a smooth rhythm, carefully managing his race pace. With such a commanding position, he appeared to be in complete control, only to have his advantage erased by circumstances beyond his control.
Nevertheless, Anstie can take solace in retaining the red plate for the second straight week, signifying his place at the top of the championship standings. His Yamaha machine was clearly capable of winning, and despite the setback, he remains a title contender moving forward.
Hampshire Recovers Strongly After Tampa Setback
For RJ Hampshire, the Detroit round was a chance to put behind the disappointment of Tampa, where he suffered an early-race incident that left him tangled with a Tuff Blox, forcing him to settle for minimal points. Determined to bounce back, he stayed in the top-four battle throughout the race, never dropping out of contention for a podium finish.
Hampshire ultimately crossed the line in third place, securing valuable points in the championship fight. While he didn’t gain ground on Anstie in the standings, he did manage to close the gap slightly on Tom Vialle, who also endured a challenging race.
Vialle Battles Through the Field
The race started off slowly for Tom Vialle, as he found himself outside the top five in the early laps. However, showing resilience and racecraft, he steadily made his way forward, even briefly running in third place before being overtaken by Hampshire. He ultimately settled for fourth place, which still represented a strong finish considering his difficult start.
Thrasher Fights Back to Round Out the Top Five
After winning his heat race, Nate Thrasher had every reason to believe he could challenge for the win in the main event. However, a poor start off the grid left him buried in seventh place at the end of Lap 1. Refusing to let the early setback define his night, Thrasher methodically picked his way through the field, securing a fifth-place finish by the time the checkered flag waved.
Hymas Continues Strong Comeback from Injury
Just missing out on the top five, Chance Hymas had every reason to be satisfied with his performance. The Honda HRC rider has been battling back from injuries sustained during the Pro Motocross and SMX championships, and his steady progress is a positive sign for the team. With Jo Shimoda competing in the 250 West and both Lawrence brothers sidelined in the 450 class, Hymas is carrying a significant load for Honda’s 250 East efforts.
McAdoo’s Rough Night Ends in Another Crash
Cameron McAdoo endured one of the toughest nights of his season, suffering two major crashes in the main event. The first spill happened midway through the race, but he quickly remounted and continued pushing. However, as the clock wound down, McAdoo suffered a second, much heavier fall, forcing the red flag stoppage that ultimately reshaped the race outcome.
Thankfully, McAdoo later provided a health update on social media, reassuring fans that he was okay despite finishing last in the race. “Thanks everyone for your thoughts. We’ll be good,” he posted, signaling his determination to bounce back in the upcoming rounds.
Full Results from Detroit
Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
Max Anstie (Yamaha)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Tom Vialle (KTM)
Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
Chance Hymas (Honda)
Austin Forkner (Triumph)
Carson Mumford (Honda) *
Maximus Vohland (Yamaha)
Henry Miller (Honda)
Cullin Park (Honda)
Hardy Munoz (Yamaha)
Trevor Colip (Honda)
Gage Linville (KTM)
Jack Chambers (Kawasaki)
Lorenzo Locurcio (GasGas)
Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
Mark Fineis (Yamaha)
Preston Boespflug (Kawasaki)
Ayden Shive (KTM)
Izaih Clark (Honda)
Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
As the 250SX East division continues its unpredictable season, the title fight remains wide open. With six different winners in six rounds, the competition has never been fiercer. The next round promises even more intense action as the riders battle for supremacy and the coveted championship red plate.
Supercross 2025 results: 250 highlights, finishing order, reaction at Detroit, as Levi Kitchen wins
