Sounds like Levi was simply just burnt out of the Deeg Train and the team investing more into him than the rest. There doesn't have to be any bad blood because of it. No hard feelings, just made a move for his best interest. Hoping the best for him on the PC Kawi team.

@roblilt7359

7 ай бұрын

I think it definitely was the best move for him and his future, there's a much more realistic path to a 450 ride with PC than if he stayed with STAR.

@ej2civicb736

7 ай бұрын

I don't think they invested more money at first Deegan wasn't even gona do full season but Levi sucked it up so fucking bad it gave hayden his time and they made the best move

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

He literally said it was no different when Haiden came on board and they got along and that the team didn’t play favorites. How are you going to say the exact opposite of what he just said?

@alee891

6 ай бұрын

@@davidbiagi2932 do you ever read into body language and demeanor or do you just believe everything said at face value like a good robot?

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

So you’re calling him a liar? Weird…. Also, if you ever actually watched any of Levi or Deegans videos you would easily be able to tell they were good friends. Did you ever stop to think that maybe Levi is just a little nervous being interviewed so his “body language and demeanor” are going to look off. But hey, keep on thinking what you want even though the actual person literally said the exact opposite so you have no reason to think he’s lying about it.

You can tell he's holding back and really wasn't happy. Im glad he switched i hope he does good in the future

@dr00andrew

6 ай бұрын

I dont think he was that unhappy, hes close with quite a few of the star guys. Think it was more of a combination of the pressure and expecation of riding for star and him wanting to do his own training instead of always with the team. I know his old mechanic at star either was let go or left sometime around may and he was good friends with him. Perhaps that impacted his decision as well

@jerryhill4893

Ай бұрын

Gooooooo Levi!!!!!!@@

They got a squad down there Holy shit this might actually be a really good move for him

Nice level headed gentlemen, very refreshing to see, best of luck in 2024.

Levi deserves more recognition man. He’s a great racer. Real humble. Wanna see him take a championship for himself.

I hope he wins everything this year. 🏆😁

BEST MOVE LEVI COULD OF DONE! KEEP IT COOKING KITCHEN

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

Ehhh, I don’t think so. That star bike is better. The bike and his training aren’t even his issue. His issue is his mental game and believing and knowing he is that guy. When most of the top guys get a bad start, they continue moving forward pushing, but when Levi gets a bad start he kinda just rides at the pace around him and doesn’t really make many moves forward. Until he fixes that part, it won’t matter what bike or team he is on.

Man I really only want the best for Levi was bummed he left Yamaha. But completely understandable that every athlete is different will always be a fan and had the pleasure of meeting him at a few races great young man and really seems like a great person

I can definitely understand the move due to getting away some of the competition. That should help build confidence when you are not being beat by them on your off days at practice and than that starts messing with. Good luck Levi, I’m excited to see where this change takes you🤘

Section and Kenny, Levi can Get really good. And he’s already great!

@caydenthompson126

7 ай бұрын

Sexton

Absolutely excellent! Great interview and answered all the questions I think fans were wondering about. It will be great to see how the Chef does in 24!

Levi is a beast! Hes the only rider who has checked out 10+ seconds on Jett straight up! Thunder Valley 250 Moto 1 2022

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

When he gets that start he is tough to catch. Something just clicks in his head when he’s up there. Hopefully he can start getting more consistent both motos (outdoors) and has to get them starts in sx.

I got a picture with Levi at 2022 washougal. I saw him walk to a solo tent for autographs before anyone could catch him or say whats up I got to talk to him for a second. very humble, genuine, and he'll always have me as a fan rooting for him at the races or from the couch. Glad to see him work hard for that Career number and stay healthy. Can't wait to see him rip it up on that PC Kawi. Chef gonna come out swingin '24

Such a good guy, and great interview! Hope he kills it next year.

Glad to hear Levi is happy with his change so far. Look forward to seeing him embrace his skills and be more consistent in 2024. Great interview and best of luck to you in 2024 #47

I like Levi,this is the first time Ive seen a sit down interview,great content it left me liking Levi more,been a fan of his riding for awhile dude rips,now I know the man.

Kitchen is a bad ass.

Huge fan! Levi is going to be a threat every gate drop

Levi Kitchen is a wild card. You never know when he will get first place or sometimes just top 10. He needs to find consistency

Great interview, Great questions and great answers.

I really like Levi, and I think he’s an incredible talent. Amazing rider. Steezy style. When the kid gets out front, watch out. BUT… I understand the switch. Deegan has a relentless drive and he proved that during the season. When Kitchen battled Jett at Southwick the other year, most people thought,”this kid has something for him”. Then he got hurt and didn’t see him truly rise to the occasion. Yeah he had some really good performances and won a triple crown, but I wouldn’t say any “break-out rides”. I could be wrong, that’s just my perspective. The thing I see different between Kitchen and Deegan is the mentality. Deegan has the grit Cooper and Eli have. They know if they get a bad start, there’s nothing to do but get up front. If he wants to become the champion and front runner he can become, he’s gotta figure that out. I hope he does, because he’s one hell of a rider and has too much talent to not be winning. Good luck Chef!

One of my fav riders! Once he can get two motos strung together he will be a title contender! His raw speed is legit! He also has a good way with his fans and I would love to have him on my team if I was a owner!

Im pretty sure Levi got the nick name chef from a Loretta's commentator mega watt or whatever they call themselves said it. I remember watching lorretas when he was in the 125 classes

Looks to be an exciting year for Levi and team green! Go Levi!

I can't wait for him to get over his mental block so he can actually pass people instead of only winning from holeshots

Star Yamaha:You can't leave and train somewhere else. U must stay here everyday and ride w the Bois . Also star Yamaha: sure haiden you can go to the tomac ranch for as long as you like

@paranoidandroid4270

7 ай бұрын

The only Star rider on his own program is Tomac. Deegs was allowed to train for a couple weeks in Colorado but he’s back at the Farm.

@craighills2382

7 ай бұрын

Remember the bike deal , they wouldnt hand over. I really believe that STUNK ,It was there to take but no you dont

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

1- he went there for a couple weeks, it’s not something he will or can do any time he wants. Levi could have done the same thing. It isn’t like they said he can’t go ride with someone once in a while. 2- Haiden went in the offseason, Levi is wanting to do his own training during the season, not the same.

@zee.___moose941

6 ай бұрын

@@davidbiagi2932 he said he asked and they said no. It's a 2 tier system at star Yamaha,if your the hot property u can do what u want.if deegan or tomac wanna go they can go anywhere anytime. I assure you Stylez and romano cannot disappear for weeks

Good move Levi! You leanded a lot doing a couple of years of the star circus! That would get to anyone after a time. 38 will probably be sick of it after another year too.

@paranoidandroid4270

7 ай бұрын

Agree. Can see Deegs in a couple years doing a Tomac and doing his own program apart from the farm.

Great guy and superior athlete. He stopped inbetween track/pits just to sign my jersey. He’s a good dude 👍

Holding back on what he really wants to say 😢😮😅

Crazy how he said Star Racing didn’t let him do anything on his own, and wanted people to stay together, Meanwhile, Deegan spend over a month in Colorado with Tomac, just them 2. I think there was more behind the scene stuff happening but nonetheless, wish kitchen would have stayed but best of luck to the kid.

@seanhaberman4619

7 ай бұрын

It definitely seems like Star has some favoritism in how they treat riders. Deegan is a huge brand and he definitely gets special treatment. That shit he pulled with Smith in a heat race would have got any other rider chastised by the team. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a harder time fielding a big team in the coming years because of it.

@rockstarbmf9595

7 ай бұрын

There's an obvious reason for that, Deegan isn't considered an adult and his parents have the say in what he does as his guardians, not Star!

I wonder if Mitch Payton recruited Levi Kitchen to gain intelligence and perspective on the competition.

i agree outdoor title is crazy gnarly

He’s being very diplomatic here, you can tell things were not jiving well with the bike/team/training.

the kawi used to look slow but they did sum and power aint a problem i think esspecially in outdoors

That was very good.

Day 5000 of asking to make these available in podcast form. I know it doesn't make you guys as much money but would be great for us guys at work.

@SMLChase

7 ай бұрын

Truth is we put a lot of money and effort into building the set and making the SML show a show, not just another podcast. We have podcasts that we produce, but the SML Show is intended to be a show. I don’t understand why you can’t watch it on KZread as you would listen to it like a podcast? I listen to probably 5 hours of podcasts a week all on KZread.

Pro Circuit is the cream of the crop for riders,and the bikes are sick fast! Go Levi

@G-TownJoker

7 ай бұрын

That Star Racing Yamaha is the best 250 bike out there. Period. Pro circuit is a top tier team for sure but how many races did that Kawasaki win again? Between both classes. He left the top team out there right now

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

Hell, they didn’t win until the very last outdoor National and it had been quite a long time since they got an overall win. Great bike though and have had some shitty luck with top riders getting injured.

👍🏻let’s go “Kitch”! 😂

Loretta's is absolutely correct. I think 4 years ago was watching live on #RacerTv

Ol m8 set him good to start cooking some beef,he didnt want a bar of it though and ended up pointing out some positives about the all the new fans the 38 is bringing in. That was pretty respectful from the Chef.

@baby-sharkgto4902

7 ай бұрын

💯

Levi seems to be a good kid himself and a Haiden seemed to get along best on the team, but I can’t see him wanting to be the Alpha

I hope Levi has a good season aboard the Pro Circuit Kawi.He is def one of the faster 250f racers.

Levi seems like a cool dude and looks sick in a bike! He has the talent but does he have the mentality??? Is he prepared to savagely block pass anyone in his way to the title? Hunter did, Deegan did, Jett did, can Levi? The answer to that will determine his career!!

Funny thing about kitchen he left because deegan filming all the time but then he starts a podcast 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

Good kid. I do find it funny how everyone that switches teams talked about how the new team will “try anything”. Seems like everyone says that but I am curious who really does that the best.

@carsonevans4252

7 ай бұрын

I've noticed that too, then when they leave that same team, they don't want to try anything.

Levi loving fishing enough to buy a boat, is the real take away from this interview.

We allll knoe why

My buddies took Levi on a hard enduro ride when he was on Kauai. Him and Chase.

@ethanmatthews2863

7 ай бұрын

We’re they good?

@midgetmoney1

7 ай бұрын

@@ethanmatthews2863 They got worked! To be fair, it is a really hard zone but it sounded like they barely made it to the real trails.

I often say… life is good as long as I keep my brain out of the equation. 😂

Cant wait for sx season.

Hell yea it was worth the $100k. SMC worked out sweet for everyone, riders, fans, media etc……

Kind of awkward how it opens with a Yamaha commercial and Deegan 😂

After hearing him, SURELY SURELY SURELY, Mitch will demand he sees a sports psychologist!! That kind of “maybe i should l, maybe i dunno” means he isn’t CRYSTAL CLEAR in “I will ANYTHING to win”! All the world’s best see sports psychologists!!!

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

100%. That is his ONLY problem. We all know he has the speed to beat anybody, but until he fixes his mental game and starts KNOWING and believing that he IS that guy, switching teams isn’t going to change anything. He was already on the best bike out there, which is really not much different than the bike he’s going to and it’s pretty well known that Star has pretty much the best training program, but they pretty much all do the same things no matter what team you’re on. Hopefully he can start believing in himself every time he lines up. If he can do that, he will be dangerous

The kawis were low key getting the better starts most the time. A wave of green always up front and as we know Levi cannot start for his life.when he does he's gone so this might be the move

He better be careful California has far stricter statutory R-word laws than Florida.

AC 2019 250mx was their last title don

The fact that Brayton can continue to claim 10 when he isn't even racing in the states anymore is completely stupid, same thing when reed retired and he held onto 22 for like 4 years.

I wonder why They let haiden train somewhere else like Tomac but not Levi?

@GARBO96

7 ай бұрын

It was for a week he's already back at the farm probably because monster push them into doing it for a video

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

Because it’s the off season and it was a one time thing for a couple weeks.

Mitch's Kawasaki's have never been under powered.

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

Ehh they’ve had a few bad bikes, but nobody really said they are underpowered. But it’s a known fact that the star bike is the fastest bike out there right now, but the PC kawi is right there

Invited to diss on Deegs and … Chef sends the Heisman!

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

Ummm do what? Nothing you said made any sense.

It’s the gas tank

Getting beat by a 17 year old rookie day in, day out is emotionally and mentally draining for him.

@iguanatron

7 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@gavinjohnsonpnw5626

7 ай бұрын

lol had nothing to do with that 😂

@fasterthanyou7605

7 ай бұрын

Ahh we found the super fan.

@liammoodyfilms

7 ай бұрын

lol it’s called money dude. they lost Jo and needed another really good rider to replace him…

@dylanlevy2107

7 ай бұрын

​@@gavinjohnsonpnw5626had everything to do with haiden he knows the team will put haiden first so the only way to be top dog is go to a team that lost its top dog in shimoda..

I want to root for him but I also just want deegan to smash this season. I hope he just becomes the dark horse in the 450 class. Like doesn't get the 250 titles and uses it as motivation to be a 450 savage.

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

I believe they are going to be on different coasts so you can cheer for both. The shootouts might be a little tough on ya though but hey, there is never anything wrong with rooting and being a fan of multiple riders. I’m a deegan fan but there’s quite a few riders I’d love to see win any weekend, including shimoda, Levi, Hunter, Jett, Justin cooper, and more.

I am sauce to see this kid rip this coming year LGF I don’t feel like in any way, shape or form, moving to pro circuit is a bad move, especially seeing their bikes towards the end of the year

🤘🤠🏁 LK47

I’d say that Kawi was a good choice….

I do not know Austin either, just wanted to put that out there 😐

Kitch 2024!

Good on you Levi Now your away from the deegan rubbish Go to win

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

What does deegan have to do with anything? He literally even said that they are friends and nothing changed when Haiden got signed. Levi’s problem is all in his head and believing in himself and not second guessing himself. Gotta love how everyone blames someone’s inconsistency on a 17 year old kid who just turned pro this year 🤣🤦‍♂️

What pegs are they talking about?

@caydenthompson126

7 ай бұрын

Steg Pegs

Levi looking like haiden deegan

what number is he this year? 43?

@Legalizeranch420

6 ай бұрын

Correct

Did he really say the yz250f was faster? Lol

@TheNinjaSlothy

7 ай бұрын

I thought it was pretty well known that the yz are the fastest bikes on the track. Not say that they’ll always win but definitely have the edge on power

@Ccrider363

7 ай бұрын

@@TheNinjaSlothy it is very well known, never heard a rider leave and say his old teams bike was faster. Sure someone has but I have not seen or heard that before.

@baby-sharkgto4902

7 ай бұрын

@@Ccrider363I just watched this whole video and still haven’t seen it. Could you time stamp it please

@Ccrider363

7 ай бұрын

@@baby-sharkgto4902 sure can ! But I won’t sorry I’m a dick head good luck

@caydenthompson126

7 ай бұрын

Yeah atleast we know he isn't lying.

Don you really got cut back on the weed ,

@gagemunoz878

7 ай бұрын

The way the interview just started so chill too

@akrabano

7 ай бұрын

I've been wanting say the same thing forever. Respect to Don for being in the industry for a long time but his interview skills are horrible. I get it, he tries to let his interviews be organic in a way but damn son it's like waiting for syrup to pour after being in the fridge. There's no passion or excitement in his style and delivery. I think as an audience we are used to professional broadcasters, commenters, analysts from other televised sports. They're on point with what they need from the interview to cover what the directors and producers want plus their regulated to a certain time frame. Plus, I've been in the Film, TV industry since the mid 80s so I guess that's what I'm used to and comparing him to and it's unfair to some degree. But I know what and where you're coming from.

@shawnhorne9296

7 ай бұрын

@akrabano Don has the personality and personality of a empty can , should never do interviews

@Ccrider363

7 ай бұрын

@@akrabanodefinitely could not disagree more. Live all his stuff. Maybe your just a bit uptight.

@jmr_56

7 ай бұрын

I appreciate Donn's chill factor. Seems more genuine to me.

Could you timestamp these episodes? It's hard to sit through 30minute+ episodes

@robertlawler1387

7 ай бұрын

You could make your own

@denniswilder3014

7 ай бұрын

Just pause it. On my phone i pause it and exit out of it and when i come back to the same spot

@bunnyman6321

7 ай бұрын

Watch the video at a faster speed Try 1.25 - 1.75

In reality star offer probably wasn’t very good as it didn’t need to be

I am sure he got tired of the brat called deegan Boom

Steg pegs make you lazy🤷‍♂️ my opinion.

👍 # 698

Hmmmm

Not a fan, but Levi is Badass on a bike and real fast. Hope he does well and stay safe.

Idk why everyone blows the Yamahas. I like Yamaha, it’s my favorite brand. But there was one Yamaha in the top 10 in the 450 class. And a Honda won the 250 class

@caydenthompson126

7 ай бұрын

That's because it's mostly the rider

@rockstarbmf9595

7 ай бұрын

The Honda won because the Yamaha rider couldn't finish the last few races, otherwise the Yamaha was #1. Lastly, it's not hte bow! It's the Indian!

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

There were two actually…. And now will be 3 and that’s literally all of their 450 guys 🤣 wtf are you talking about? Outdoors yes, only 1 because Tomac was hurt and Webb wasn’t on star Yamaha yet, but we all know Tomac and Webb both would be top 10. Did you even think before you commented or are you just dumb?

Just saying he wasn't fast enough to beat Deegan Glad he left open spot at Star for talent

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

He was when he got the start. He pulled deegan almost every time the two both started out front. I’m a deegan fan, but when Levi gets that start and stops second guessing if he can do it, he is probably the fastest 250 guy right now. But, he’s always getting in his own head and second guessing himself and until he can get that issue fixed, his results will remain the same no matter what bike or team he’s on.

Because you were getting smoked by others at star.

@levikitchen147

7 ай бұрын

Lapped man. Every damn day

@chadelz

7 ай бұрын

@@levikitchen147 legend

@davidbiagi2932

6 ай бұрын

We all know better. Get your mind right man. You’re probably the fastest guy on a 250 right now when you get that start. Hate to see you switch teams but hope you kick some ass on it!