The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross 250 Champion, Haiden Deegan has found another level for 2025. He has been fairly unchallenged so far this summer, winning four out of the first five rounds (and eight out of the ten 250 motos), and he just keeps improving. At the beginning of the series Deegan’s one weakness was his starts, but even those seem to have been fixed as he grabbed both holeshots at Southwick on his way to both moto wins.
Haiden was pretty no nonsense in his description of the race during the post-race press conference: “I really just came out and rode like I have been, really," he said. "There was really nothing special to it today. I’ve just been training hard, doing what I do and evidentially I was pretty good in the sand today.”
“Pretty good” was two holeshots, two moto wins, and a comfortable lead both motos. Haiden’s win at Southwick came right after him and his dad, Brian Deegan, were featured on EPSN's SportsCenter.
“It was definitely pretty cool to do that, have the opportunity to do that," Haiden said after the race Saturday. "It was sweet because I think ESPN and SportsCenter was popping because it was just the NBA draft, so it was a great time for it. I think my manager set it all up. They know a little bit because of X Games, the racing side not as much because that’s just not what they do. It would be nice though to get those guys over to the dirt bike side and keep growing the sport. But I have been surrounded by the hype since I was little so that is that last thing that is going to affect me. Right now, racing wise I am just, ‘Do my work. Do my job and get it done.’ And when I am not at the track or not racing, the last thing I want to think about is a dirt bike. I just live my life, to be honest.”
Work/life balance could be one of the keys to Haiden’s success as he knows the importance of hard work and having fun.
“I think I show you guys exactly what I do, plenty," he said. "I definitely don’t restrict that much, but I think it's crazy what dirt bikes get you in life, and that just shows you the sport evolving. I think that a lot of times I put on this front that I am having a lot of fun. Clearly, I am still training. I’m still grinding. When people freak out, ‘Man, you gotta lock in’ I’m like, ‘Don’t trip bro. Don’t trip.’ But I like having fun though because I am still only 19.”
There is no doubt Haiden works hard, as his results show. He is hoping his hard work pays off next weekend at RedBud, a track he has not always had the best luck. In fact, in his 2024 championship run, a fifth place at RedBud was his worst finish of the season.
“RedBud is a fun race just because of the fans, I wouldn’t say I am the biggest fan of the track, but the fans are rowdy, so it gives you that motivation," Deegan said. "I think this year I am coming in with a whole lot more speed and just better on the bike in general so it may be nice to keep what we are doing going and go have some fun.”
With the only person who has been able to beat Deegan outdoors this year, Chance Hymas, out with injury, is there anyone who can challenge Haiden? Or will he be just as dominant the second half of the season as he has been the first?
