Image: Octopi Media.

On the heels of a triumphant final amateur race at Loretta Lynn’s, Levi Kitchen returned to Pro Motocross to knock his first goal of a top 10 finish off his list at Unadilla.

After making his professional debut earlier in the season at RedBud, the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha rookie returned to action for round eight at Unadilla, taking eighth overall on the day.

“I’m pretty happy with how the motos went after how bad qualifying was,” Kitchen explained. “That track is very unique and technical!

“My first goal as a pro was to check a top-10 finish off of the list, so to get eighth overall was awesome. We look to keep building on that next weekend.”

Kitchen’s 12-7 moto scores for eighth overall on the day were exactly what he was hoping for heading into the round, as he explained in an interview last week, also noting that he’s eager to figure out the pace at the front with a good start.

“I just want to chip away, probably the first race I just want to be top 10 overall would be a good goal,” he continued. “Then I also want to just try to – if I just got a holeshot and could run up front I don’t even care if I fall 15 minutes in.

“Obviously, I want to run up there as long as I can, but I just want to learn that pace and I think I would surprise myself if I’m up there in the top five, I think I could run their pace.”

Kitchen will get another opportunity to run at the front this weekend as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series heads to Budds Creek for round nine of the championship.