HAIDEN DEEGAN - GRIT 232 250SMX

HAIDEN DEEGAN | GRIT-232 | 250 SMX

Even with a disastrous crash occurring on behalf of the rookie in the earliest hours of Saturday's festivities, the number 238 of Haiden Deegan would manage to rebound and attack the racetrack with authority in the earliest stages of moto-one; occupying a third-place residency, just behind Levi Kitchen and Seth Hammaker before moving forward on behalf of the mistake of the Kawasaki rider. Once into the runner-up position (on lap three) it was then a process of tracking-down his teammate (i.e. Kitchen) to the best of his abilities with an open racetrack at his disposal. The aggression that Deegan possessed would be remarkable, where he scrubbed his way over the finish-line and launched his way over the awkward single thereafter that sustained an abrupt transition along with countless potholes. The way that Haiden was leaping into ruts while sustaining perfect balance would generate immense cheer from the crowd, who began to louden their screams as the margin between the two Yamaha riders closed to within a second around the eleventh lap! And at that point, an opportunity to move forward would be available via the split-option section just before the mechanic's area...where the number 238 powered over the remaining hump and jumped into view with his rear wheel spinning with velocity! He immediately nullified the countering maneuver(s) of Kitchen and proceeded to then establish a lead while hurrying toward the checkered flag...and after leading the final six laps of action, it was Deegan who took the opening moto win of the SMX playoff series! His start to the second moto was unfortunately amongst the chaos of the 250cc field, but Deegan's initial standing (of ninth) would quickly be improved to sixth by the second circuit. After lap five (where he passed Seth Hammaker for fifth) it was a matter of Deegan remaining focused on the game-plan as the track began to break down. There was little room for error in the hard-packed conditions, where ruts were now crusted and could snag a foot-peg at any moment in the multitude of these tapered corners. However, it was evident that the rookie's prowess had heightened when nearing the checkered flag - as he remained in complete control of the Yamaha chassis, with pressure amounting in a multitude of facets. As the checkered flag was then thrown, it would be Deegan who scored the result of fifth-place to conclude his tenure in Charlotte; occupying third overall, as all was said and done for this September event.

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