HAIDEN DEEGAN WINS THE 2023 RED BUD NATIONAL- INTERVIEW

It was only a matter of time before Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Haiden Deegan would capture his first overall 250 motocross win. His consistent 2-3 Moto scores did it at Red Bud. While the seventeen-year-old has been second in points for several rounds, his win, coupled with points leader Hunter Lawrence’s second moto crash, has propelled him to only eleven points down. Coming into the series, Deegan has been hyped up as the next big thing. It appears Dangerboy is living up to it. We had a couple of minutes to talk to Haiden post-race before being mobbed by his many fans.

2023 SOUTHWICK NATIONAL // FULL COVERAGE

 

BY JIM KIMBALL

Haiden succeeded at what so many knew was inevitable. With moto scores of 2-3, Deegan’s consistency would gain him an overall win.

HAIDEN, IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT YOU GOING TO WIN AN OVERALL, AND HERE IT IS. Yes, the overall was the biggest goal on my goal list, and to achieve that in round five was incredible for me. I am depending on the fact that consistency will get you an overall, and I feel like I have that. I was able to apply that in this race, and that was good.  

TO BE QUITE HONEST, WITH THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN RIDING, I FELT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO SWEEP BOTH MOTOS TODAY. I JUST FELT THIS TRACK SUITED YOUR STYLE. Getting first in these rounds is very difficult.  There are a lot of very good guys, and Hunter ran well in that first moto. I did not really have anything for him. I need to get my speed better. I am a rookie, but I am learning and seeing. Running behind those guys, you do learn a lot of the stuff they do on the racetrack. That is what I will have to take to learn, but as of now, consistency is what I will have to do.

After a moto win at Hangtown, the second race of the season, everyone knew Haiden was a threat from the beginning, he just needed to close the deal in moto 2.

IT’S STILL A BIT CRAZY TO ME THAT IN YOUR ROOKIE SEASON, YOU HAVE ALREADY WON AN OVERALL. THE CLASS IS STACKED. It just takes a lot of hard work and dedication in this sport and not giving up. The big thing for me has been just staying in the fight, pushing, and just that has been a big thing for me, staying in the fight and pushing, and just trying to be strong.

YOU MENTIONED “PUSHING,” AND THAT IS HOW I SEE YOU. YOU’RE ALWAYS WIDE OPEN. Definitely, I think that is the Metal Mulisha in me from when I was a baby. I always have that “send it” at the end of the moto.

Style, stamina and speed are not things Deegan lacks. He just needed to build on his consistency, which is expected as this is his first full outdoor season.

FINISHING UP, YOU TOOK YOUR FIRST OVERALL WIN AND CLOSED THE POINTS GAP. WHAT’S NEXT? I am just going to keep training, plugging away, and getting better every weekend. As a rookie, I still have a lot to learn and some gaps to fill.  We are just going to keep training and keep on working. We are close to the red plate now, so we will keep fighting for it.

2023 SOUTHWICK NATIONAL // FULL COVERAGE