SMX champion Levi Kitchen opens up about rebuilding confidence after frightening Daytona crash

Levi Kitchen is on top of the SuperMotocross world. But getting there required more than recovering from a serious injury. He had to learn to trust himself again.

The 25-year-old Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider captured the 2026 Monster Energy SMX 250 Class World Championship in September 2026, securing his first professional title and ending a seven-year championship drought for his team.

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It was a career-defining moment for Kitchen, who had spent years coming close to winning a championship while battling injuries and setbacks along the way.

Levi Kitchen is the 2026 Monster Energy SMX 250 Class World Champion. (Octopi Media / Kawasaki USA)

“It was unreal,” Kitchen told OutKick OutDoors in an exclusive interview. “I’ve had some heartbreaks, obviously been close, but it felt really good.”

“It was pretty emotional for me just because it had taken a while to win anything of that caliber,” he added.

But the road to that championship was anything but smooth.

The long road back from Daytona

In March 2025, Kitchen suffered a violent crash during the Daytona Supercross that left him with a broken collarbone and fractures in his upper back. The injuries sidelined him for the remainder of the Supercross season.

And while he eventually healed enough to return to racing, Kitchen said the mental recovery was a different battle entirely.

“Oh yeah, big time,” he said when asked whether it was difficult to regain his confidence after the crash.

“If I look back at that season, even when I came back on the bike, in 2025, I was maybe a top-five guy outdoors. And then at least was able to compete for the championship this year.”

Watch Levi Kitchen’s entire interview with OutKick OutDoors here:

That progression didn’t happen overnight.

“Slowly but surely, I’ve made really good progress, and I have all my confidence back,” Kitchen said. “It just goes to show, I think fans, or just anybody, don’t realize how much injuries can really affect everything.”

“It can be a real pain in the butt to build yourself back up.”

For fans watching from the sidelines, a rider’s return to competition might signal that the recovery process is complete. But as Kitchen explained, getting back on the bike doesn’t necessarily mean getting back to the same level of confidence and performance.

It took time, patience and a different approach to racing.

Learning when to back off

Looking back on everything he’s experienced, Kitchen believes one of his biggest improvements has come from learning to trust his abilities while also recognizing his limits.

“The biggest thing I would say is just finally the belief,” he said. “The belief side of it is super important. And I think on any given day, if I show up with the belief that I can get something done, normally I can get it done.”

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But confidence alone wasn’t enough.

Kitchen also had to develop a little more restraint — something that doesn’t always come naturally in a sport where riders are constantly pushing the limits of speed and control.

“Just maturity of racing,” he explained. “Now, if I don’t really have it on a day, I try to be as smart as I can. Where before, I would probably still try and then end up on the ground or something.”

It’s a lesson learned the hard way, but one Kitchen believes will serve him well beyond a single championship season.

“I want to race for a lot more years to come and can’t be too stupid,” he said.

That shift in mentality paid off in September when Kitchen secured the 250SMX World Championship at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Mo.

And the victory meant something special beyond his own accomplishments.

Levi Kitchen competes at Colorado’s Thunder Valley MX. (Octopi Media / Kawasaki USA)

Kitchen’s title ended a seven-year championship drought for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, one of the most decorated organizations in 250-class racing.

“Mitch has done so much for me,” Kitchen said, referring to team owner Mitch Payton. “Me and Mitch have gotten close over the years, and he’s been a great boss and friend of mine now. So it was super special.”

One championship down, but plenty more to chase

Despite finally capturing that elusive first title, Kitchen insists he isn’t suddenly feeling satisfied.

In fact, winning the championship has only strengthened his belief in what he’s capable of accomplishing.

“It didn’t really take any pressure off,” he said. “The only thing it did was help me with the belief side of things. Just being able to execute.”

Kitchen has his sights set on both a Supercross and a Pro Motocross championship in 2027, and he plans to remain in the 250 class for at least another season.

“The Supercross Championship has been a major goal of mine, so that’s my first goal,” he said. “But overall, just maybe be a little better than I was this year.”

And while the first championship was certainly worth celebrating, Kitchen knows there’s no guarantee the next one will come any easier.

“I don’t think you’ll ever be satisfied, really, which is a tough thing,” he said.

Levi Kitchen crosses the finish line at an SMX World Championship event in Los Angeles. (Octopi Media / Kawasaki USA)

For now, though, Kitchen can take some satisfaction in knowing how far he’s come.

A year ago, he was still working to rebuild his confidence after a frightening crash. Now, he’s a world champion.

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And maybe the most important thing he learned along the way wasn’t how to ride faster. It was knowing when to slow down.

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