Motocross Champion Levi Kitchen Eyes Pro Fishing Career

After winning the 2026 Monster Energy SMX 250 Class title, Levi Kitchen shares his plans to pursue professional bass fishing.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Fishing

Motocross Champion Levi Kitchen Eyes Pro Fishing Career

Live Poll

Do you find that pursuing hobbies outside of work helps you manage professional stress?

Following his victory in the 2026 Monster Energy SMX 250 Class World Championship, Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen is looking toward the water for his future. The 25-year-old plans to continue racing through 2027 before eventually transitioning to a career in professional bass fishing.

Why it matters

For athletes like Kitchen, fishing offers a psychological reset that contrasts with the high-intensity demands of professional motocross. This pursuit of a secondary passion highlights the growing trend of athletes seeking sustainable long-term careers outside of their primary physical occupations.

Levi Kitchen is 25 years old and began fly fishing at age 14 or 15 using equipment from his father's shop. He has maintained an annual steelhead fishing tradition in Washington for a decade.

The players

Levi Kitchen

He is a 25-year-old professional motocross rider for Pro Circuit Kawasaki who recently secured the 2026 Monster Energy SMX 250 Class World Championship.

Tristan McCormick

He is a professional angler who teamed with Levi Kitchen during the Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am.

The details

Kitchen, who currently resides in Florida, has already begun integrating into the competitive angling circuit by participating in the Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am alongside professional angler Tristan McCormick. He credits his early experiences in Washington state with fostering a lifelong dedication to the sport that he continues to practice alongside his racing schedule.

2025: Kitchen crashed at Daytona.
2026: Kitchen won the SMX 250 Class World Championship.
2027: Kitchen plans to compete for Supercross and Motocross titles.

Culture Shift

Kitchen's pivot mirrors the post-retirement career transition trend where elite competitors leverage their personal interests into second careers. This shift reflects a move away from the traditional model of singular professional focus toward long-term lifestyle sustainability.

Readers interested in the crossover between outdoor sports and professional athletics can watch how Kitchen balances his training with competitive tournament fishing. His journey demonstrates the commitment required to maintain high-level performance in two distinct disciplines simultaneously.

The takeaway

Engaging in a completely different hobby can provide the necessary mental balance to excel in high-pressure athletic careers. Aspiring athletes should consider developing a secondary passion early to assist with long-term professional transitions.