250SMX Class
Qualifying
- The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Drew Adams [#35] and Levi Kitchen [#47] led the way in each respective timed session, with Adams’ lap of 1:57.950 ultimately resulting in his first pole position of the season and the second of his career. He edged out Kitchen’s 1:58.148 by a mere tenth of a second, with points leader and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Cole Davies [#37] in third with a time of 1:59.479.
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
- The first moto of the afternoon started with a frightening multi-rider pileup that collected both Kitchen and Davies, the top two riders in the championship. Fortunately, both were able to remount and get back into the race, albeit outside the top 30. Out front, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Kayden Minear [#99] earned the holeshot and moved into the lead ahead of Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha’s Parker Ross [#40].
- As Minear looked to take advantage of his opportunity to pace the field the attention shifted to Davies and Kitchen as they followed one another in a run through the field. They easily charged up the running order, breaking into the top 15 just 10 minutes into the moto.
- Back up front, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman [#23] fought his way into the lead with a little more than 20 minutes left on the race clock after passes around Ross and Minear. Not long after, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher [#25] moved into the top three.
- As the moto reached its halfway point, Davies lost power on his Yamaha and came to a stop on the racetrack, ending his moto. It was later confirmed he ran out of fuel due to a hole in his gas tank caused by the crash in the first turn. Kitchen, meanwhile, made his way into the top 10 and looked to continue moving forward.
- The battle for the podium took another turn when Beaumer, who started seventh, fought his way into the top three with a pass on Thrasher. Beaumer continued his push and made quick work on a pass around Minear for second. With about seven minutes left in the moto, Beaumer faced a 6.3 second deficit to Mosiman.
- As time ran out on the race clock and the 2 Lap board showing, Beaumer closed within 2.5 seconds of Mosiman. He charged to the rear fender of the Yamaha to initiate a battle for the lead. Mosiman responded to try and keep the KTM at bay. They ran side-by-side on the final lap as Beaumer was able to wrestle his way into the lead.
- Beaumer carried on to take the first moto win of career by eight tenths of a second over Mosiman, with Minear in third. Thrasher finished fourth, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick [#58] rounded out the top five. Kitchen put in a resilient effort to finish eighth, while Davies’ DNF placed him 38th.
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
- The second and deciding moto kicked off with Minear out front for a sweep of the holeshots over Mosiman and Beaumer. Davies started fifth while Kitchen started in 15th.
- Minear inched away with a lead of just over a second over Mosiman, while Beaumer applied heavy pressure from third. Davies moved up to fourth and looked to make his way into the top three.
- As the first five minutes passed, Mosiman made a push forward to challenge Minear for the lead. Behind him, Davies went down while running fourth and remounted in eighth. Moments later, Mosiman crashed out of the race from second while Davies went down again and dropped outside the top 10, ending his hopes of contending in the moto.
- The wild turn of events put Minear more than 2.5 seconds ahead of Beaumer, while Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas [#29] moved into third. Behind them, Kitchen fought his way up to fourth.
- As the moto surpassed its first 10 minutes Hymas put on a charge that carried him past Beaumer for second and then onto the rear fender of Minear. Kitchen followed through into third with a pass on Beaumer. Not long after, Hymas took control of the lead. Kitchen then made the pass for second at the halfway point of the moto.
- The parity of the class didn’t relent as AEO Powersports KTM’s Carson Mumford joined the fray as well and fought his way up to third. He then pressured Kitchen for second. After a couple laps of close competition, Kitchen asserted his hold of the spot.
- With the 2 Lap board out, Beaumer closed in on Mumford for third and looked to make the pass but lost his balance and tipped over. He remounted quickly to maintain his hold of fourth place.
- Hymas dominated the second half to take his first moto win of the season by 11 seconds over Kitchen, as Mumford earned a career best in third. Beaumer finished fourth.
Overall
- By virtue of his 1-4 finishes, Beaumer broke through for the first outdoor victory of his career. He’s the fourth different rider this summer to capture his maiden victory and is the 97th different rider in series history to win an overall. It’s the culmination of one of the sport’s most incredible comeback stories after Beaumer’s career was put in jeopardy following a burst fracture in his spine suffered last September during the SMX Playoffs.
- For Hymas, his first podium result of the season came via a runner-up effort following 9-1 finishes. It’s the sixth podium of his career and puts a bright spot on Hymas’ own extended recovery from a torn ACL suffered last June as well as a torn labrum suffered in January during Supercross.
- A resilient afternoon for Kitchen proved to be rewarding in all facets, as he finished third overall with 8-2 finishes and regained control of the lead in the championship standings with his fourth podium of the season and 18th of his career.
- Kitchen came into the race two points behind Davies in the championship, but following the New Zealander’s 16th-place finish (38-13) and a 27-point swing for Kitchen, the Kawasaki rider now sits atop the standings for the second time this summer, with the largest advantage of the season. Kitchen holds a 24-point lead over Beaumer, who moved into second following his victory, while Davies sits 25 points out of the lead in third.
- Kitchen will now carry the red plate into his native Washougal next weekend, adding even more significance to his annual homecoming to the Pacific Northwest.
Results & Standings
250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
- Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (1-4 // 43)
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (9-1 // 38)
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (8-2 // 36)
- Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha (3-6 // 36)
- Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM (11-3 // 31)
- Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki (7-7 // 30)
- Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Husqvarna (5-10 // 29)
- Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna (6-11 // 27)
- Dilan Schwartz, Alpine, Calif., Yamaha (10-8 // 26)
- Lux Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., Yamaha (15-5 // 24)
250SMX Class Championship Standings (Race 7 of 11)
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 261
- Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 237
- Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 236
- Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha – 199
- Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 194
- Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 194
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 190
- Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM – 153
- Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 134
- Casey Cochran, Portsmouth, Va., Husqvarna – 122
SMX World Championship Regular Season Standings (Round 24 of 28)
- Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 467
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 438
- Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 358
- Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 314
- Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 294
- Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 237
- Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 233
- Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha – 232
- Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Husqvarna – 232
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 228
250SMX Class Overall Results
250SMX Class Box Score
250SMX Class Championship Standings
Combined 250SMX Class Regular Season Standings
Quotes
1st Place – Julien Beaumer | #13 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-4)
“Laying in that hospital bed [with the back injury] I thought maybe [my career] was over. I told myself I was going to die trying to come back. Now, I’m here. I didn’t make it easy on myself and didn’t ride great in that second moto, but we made it happen. All the odds were against me coming into the season. I worked my ass off for six months coming into the summer and when I got back on the bike I knew I could be one of those guys.”
2nd Place – Chance Hymas | #29 Honda HRC Progressive (9-1)
“It’s been way too long of a summer and has taken too long to get a [moto] win. We’ve been struggling, but the team has stayed behind me every step of the way. This is a perfect example of never giving up on yourself. Now I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
3rd Place – Levi Kitchen | #47 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (8-2)
“It was a tough day, for sure. I’m glad to be somewhat okay after the first moto crash. It was nasty. I’m glad to be alright and big thank you to the fans for keeping me going. I’m proud of my fight today.”
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, July 25, for Round 25 of the SMX World Championship regular season, with the annual visit to the Pacific Northwest and the scenic tree-lined setting of Washougal MX Park. The FLY Racing Washougal National Presented by Peterson CAT and the annual “Military Appreciation Race” will be shown live in its entirety on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, followed by coverage of the motos at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.
