Assuming Haiden Deegan clinches the 250 Pro Motocross championship before the final round scheduled for Budds Creek on the 23rd of August, Deegan is likely to be racing Jett Lawrence on a 450 for the first time ever in what will be a look through the window into the future of the sport.
It is the most anticipated rivalry of this generation as the 19 year-old American starlet, who grew up as the next big thing on YouTube gets ready to take on the rider most believe is the best rider on planet earth and already one of the best of all time, 21 year-old, Jett Lawrence.
In complete contrast to Haiden, Jett, came from seemingly nowhere to get signed to Geico Honda when even the team didn’t know who he was in 2018! Jett had been on the factory Suzuki team on an 85 in EMX and winning, he was winning again in EMX250 as a 14 year old, an unbelievably impressive feat and a major indication he was an extremely speciial talent but, to America, he was still completely unknown with Deegan rapidly rising through the ranks, following by millions through his YouTube presence.
Deegan was the can’t miss kid but then Jett Lawrence arrived in America and promptly took over before Deegan went pro! The genius Aussie arrived with the technique of Stefan Everts and the mindest of Ricky Carmichael with a splash of the King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath’s laid-back charisma and lightening starts. Three of best riders of all-time combined in one rider makes Jett…unbeatable?
Deegan is much more Carmichael than Everts or McGrath and the way Carmichael beat Everts and McGrath, the two most technically perfect riders for motocross and supercross was, as he told us in our interview last year at the MXoN, was riding the edge: “I knew that if I was able to ride that edge, I knew that MC was… I had an idea that MC was going to stay within his comfort zone and weigh on the side of thinking that I would lay it down. And, yeah, luckily it worked out and I was able to keep it on two wheels.”
“I think that’s what Haiden does really well (push the edge). And, you know, Jett is an exceptional rider. They’re both great in their own way. And I don’t know which one is going to work. I think the great thing for the sport is we’re going to get to watch it and see it.
“I could argue for each rider of why I think their style will work for them and will eventually outdo the other. So it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out, but nevertheless, I think we’re all lucky to be able to someday see that battle.”
Now that someday is looking likely to be a few months earlier that we thought. The all-American swagger of a multi-millionaire teenager versus the global superstar of the sport, a very confident yet laid back Aussie. They are already battling off-track with comments here and there and this could be the rivalry that elevates the sport with the Deegan’s marketing genius and ESPN level media contacts plus Jett’s global appeal that makes it an international rivalry.
They could be potentially joined by the latest generational talent on the scene in MXGP world championship chaser, 18 year-old Belgian, Lucas Coenen, who has all the talent in the world. If he goes Stateside as has long been rumoured, that would make it an incredible global rivalry in the USA with America, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere all represented in the King Kong of dirt bike series, SMX, and that Southern Hemisphere region could be joined sooner rather than later in the clash of the titans by Kiwi, Cole Davies.
But can Haiden Deegan be the first one to find a chink in Jett Lawrence armour? He looks like he is getting the first shot of the next generation in just a few weeks. Lucas and Cole will be watching along with the rest of the world.
This is what we have all been waiting for.
