The second round of the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Playoffs in St. Louis, Missouri, delivered everything fans have come to expect from postseason motocross—speed, drama, and plenty of talking points. While Haiden Deegan opened the night with a dominant performance in the first 250SMX moto, the spotlight quickly shifted to a heated on-track moment between Deegan and Levi Kitchen in the following race.
On the opening lap, chaos unfolded as Kitchen made an aggressive move that instantly changed the tone of the night. Cutting across several deep ruts, Kitchen set up for a block pass on Deegan. The maneuver, however, didn’t go to plan. Instead of cleanly making the move, Kitchen’s pass took both riders down. The crowd erupted, and suddenly the championship narrative had a whole new wrinkle.
Deegan, who had been riding with the confidence and momentum of a champion, found himself in an impossible situation. After remounting, he discovered he no longer had the use of his front brake lever—an almost unthinkable handicap in a high-stakes playoff race. Still, true to his reputation as a gritty competitor, Deegan pushed on and salvaged what he could from the moto.
As expected, the incident became the hot topic of the night. Fans debated fiercely whether Kitchen’s move was just part of hard racing or if he crossed the line. The tension between aggressive competition and outright contact has always been a fine line in motocross, and this moment became the latest example of that debate.
When asked about the situation afterward, Levi Kitchen didn’t shy away from the spotlight. Instead, he leaned into it, making it clear that he’s not racing to win over fans or make friends on the track. “Love me or hate me, I’m racing for myself and myself only,” Kitchen stated. His words highlighted his mindset as a rider laser-focused on results, regardless of outside opinions.
For Kitchen, this wasn’t about personal rivalries or grudges—it was about making his mark in the SMX Playoffs. But for Deegan, the moment carried heavier consequences. With his rhythm disrupted and valuable points potentially slipping away, the incident may influence the remainder of his championship campaign.
As the SMX Playoffs continue, the storyline between these two riders will undoubtedly remain under the microscope. Whether it fuels an even fiercer rivalry or simply becomes another chapter in the unpredictable world of motocross, fans can be certain of one thing—St. Louis will be remembered for more than just lap times and finishes. It was a night when raw emotion and bold moves stole the show.