Haiden Deegan got on the podium at Unadilla with a 4-3 on the but, despite a holeshot in race one and some great speed to get on the back of the top three after an average start in race two, Deegan wasn’t able to keep the pace of Prado or Lawrence, finishing over 30 seconds back of the winner in both motos.
A frustrated Deegan said on social media: “I’m capable of way more than this. I’ll get it figured out, I’m going to keep working.”
Deegan expanded in the press conference saying he is still trying to get the ideal feeling with the 450: “It’s a continuous progression with that 450 and myself. I’m having to learn the bike and try and get it right. We made a change for the second moto. So obviously some suspension stuff and it helped feel like I was able to ride pretty good.
“But yeah, just got to keep working on it, it’s all it comes down to. Everyone kind of sees the race stuff, but no one sees how much work I’m fitting in at the practice track and how hard I’m trying to get this. So it’s taking a little longer than I wanted, but it’s just the way it goes.
“It’s how the sport is. It’s a fast and heavy bike and I mean, I’ve got a really good team behind me. So we’re going to figure it out. I think I got a lot more. I got a lot more in me. Like I said, that mid moto, I got to find that in my body a little bit. So it’s I’ll get it. I’ll get a handle. I only had eight races on a 450, and my body is going to keep on getting stronger and stronger and more comfortable and adapt to this bike.”
Meanwhile Chad Reed feels Deegan’s bike set-up in race one was not helping him saying: “Can we please get Deegs a decent setup? Than thing looks awful to ride.”
With Tim Gajser also searching for the ideal setup in MXGP – is the Yamaha a harder machine to set up?
