Haiden Deegan was simply too good for his rivals yet again in the 250 West division after another dominating win in Denver, but he only has one more 250 race left before he steps up to a level that should at finally give him a challenge against Jett Lawrence and the rest of the elite 450 riders that will see the best v the best.
And Haiden admits that despite his dominant win, the 450 class is way more important than a 250 win now, with just days to go until his 450 AMA debut in the great outdoors and the first chance we get to see Deegan v Jett Lawrence.
Deegan said: “My focus has shifted a lot just because the championship’s over so I’m not really chasing that anymore.It’s just straight 450 trying to get prepared because I’m obviously limited time on that thing so I’m just you know grinding and trying to put all the time I can on that bike, testing with the team, doing everything I can right coming to that first round and it’s like I did everything I can.
“Yeah, some days aren’t fun for sure, especially those testing days, long testing days, it gets rough but I’m like honestly I got to learn to love it, because if I want to be a champion in the 450 class it’s what it takes, so yeah, the hard work will pay off.”
With a title wrapped up the only motivation for Deegan now is money from his win bonus- and also creating records in the 250 class that sees him with one more supercross win than Jett…
“I got a big old house I’m building -I got to come collect that bonus check that’s why I’m here! And, I mean I had to get one more win to you know bump myself up in this generation of records, so you know, we got it done. Winning always feels good no matter what. It’s a it definitely it’s a little different than that first win of the season compared to the eighth one but it still hits it still hits especially knowing there’s a nice paycheck but I don’t know it definitely it definitely not the same as the first one but a win is always nice.
“It’s pretty wild to think I’m only 20 and the 250 class is over. I completed everything I ever wanted to and a whole lot more. I only wanted one championship, that’s all I cared about when I was a kid and we did a lot more. So I’m happy, I’m ready to get off the 250 and start pinning work on the 450 race wise, but it’ll be a sad day, it went quick.”
Deegan v Lawrence is 25 days away, we just need both and the rest of the elite to stay injury free in Salt Lake City and in the run-up to Pala!
