David Bailey has given Haiden Deegan the biggest compliment he could have by comparing the rapid and driven Star Yamaha rider to the legendary, Ricky Carmichael.
“He is a combination in my view (Carmichael and Hannah)”, said former AMA supercross and motocross champ, Bailey on the Pulp MX show with Steve Matthes. “So far especially this outdoor season…he’s Carmichael. He goes however fast is necessary, he will manufacture some more speed if it’s not enough. I need to make up five seconds? I’ll figure that out somehow, and he does.”
“I remember talking to Chad Watts one time (Ricky Carmichael’s mechanic) about Ricky getting gnarly and on the edge and he goes, ‘people think this is his edge, that ain’t his edge.’ And it’s very much being replayed in what Haiden is doing.
“He’s gonna send it on the podium and on the race and sometimes you are like, ‘oh gosh, I can’t believe he said that.’ But he’s winning. He’s not a complete jerk, I think he is respectful. If you got to go to lunch with him, you’d be like he’s a really cool kid. But, if you’re racing against him you are, ‘man, I want to beat that guy so bad and shut him up!’ He’s bringing all that cockiness that Hannah and a little bit of I don’t really care about my style and what I look like as long as I win. And Carmichael was similar, he just was like, how fast do I need to go and how good a shape do i need to be in to maintain that pace.”
Get the full interview below as David talks about the pressure he felt getting similar opportunities that Haiden had going pro and his thoughts on James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael doing the TV coverage.
