HAIDEN DEEGAN GRIT-231 250MX

HAIDEN DEEGAN | GRIT-231 | 250MX

With the unfortunate red-flag situation deterring a possible victory for the rookie last week in Maryland, Yamaha's Haiden Deegan would return to the competitive circuit seeking to accumulate as many points as possible prior to entering into the SMX playoff sequence. It was evident that Deegan aspired to end the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on a high note, especially after qualifying second amongst overall practice-times via countless daring maneuvers aboard his Yamaha YZ 250F. His confidence then translated into the moto's thereafter as well, where he would release his clutch and drive forward from the starting grate with confidence...to earn a fifth-place standing as the moto began. Many were curious as to if he would launch the monstrous finish-line leap in which he conducted in practice, but the number 238 appeared to choose the inside runway more often than not, which allowed him to race into fourth by lap four. Following behind Jo Shimoda, both of the riders would overtake previous race leader (Ryder DiFrancesco) by lap five; putting Haiden into the third-place residency. With KTM's Tom Vialle leading the way, Deegan was eager to reel-in both opponents who were in front of him...but it would actually be the KTM rider who was the first to be captured. This would occur on lap ten with a hard charging maneuver eventually overpowering the will to move forward on behalf of the French rider. Once into the runner-up designation, the number 238 would present his best effort(s) in order to try and overtake the Kawasaki rider...but it was to no avail - as Shimoda would go on to claim the victory, with Deegan following closely in second. Beginning the next moto in seventh, Deegan would reside here prior to passing Julien Beaumer on the sixth circuit; following closely behind Tom Vialle as they approached Deegan's teammate (Justin Cooper) once nearing the halfway point. It was Ryder DiFrancesco who was next to be overtaken though, as on lap ten, the two Californian's would battle one another en route to the finish-line section; with Deegan making the move to take fifth, prior to advancing another position on behalf of Levi Kitchen crashing out of the moto. It was then a race against time, with Deegan making a move of urgency on the fifteenth lap to overtake Tom Vialle as well; to claim third, just before the checkered flag. With Shimoda and Cooper now ahead of him, he knew that his first moto score would be enough to better his final standing ahead of his teammate (i.e. Cooper)...and with that, the number 238 would eventually reside in the third place position amongst cresting the finish-line obstacle on the last lap. Ultimately claiming second overall, Deegan ended the series with a definitive stand and proved that he will be a top contender for the series championship for the year of 2024.

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