Deegan Launches 250SMX Title Defense with Commanding Victory
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan won both motos to score the overall 250SMX victory at the SMX Playoff 1 / Sep 9, 2024 /
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan charged back in both motos to score an emphatic overall 250SMX victory in challenging conditions at the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. It was a great start to the reigning champ’s title defense as he leaves Playoff 1 of the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals with maximum points. Jordon Smith ended the day sixth overall with a pair of sixth-place finishes. Max Anstie bounced back from a tough first moto to earn a podium finish in Moto 2, finishing seventh overall with his 11-3 score. Nick Romano was 14th overall (16-13) in his SuperMotocross World Championship Finals debut. Unfortunately, Nate Thrasher crashed earlier in the day and tried to race but ultimately withdrew.
Deegan got the day off to a good start, qualifying second. He did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the first moto and found himself ninth after the first lap. The reigning 250SMX Champion quickly went to work and made his way through the competition, taking over the lead with around five laps remaining and riding on to win by a 3.4-second margin. In the second moto, he got a better start in seventh, and once again charged his way forward. With four laps to go, he claimed the lead and built another impressive gap in the final laps to take victory by a four-second margin. Coming in with 25 points as the top seed in the 250 class from his combined points in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, Deegan’s overall victory at the SMX Playoff 1 has him leaving with the maximum points available and an eight-point lead in the championship.
Smith had a solid qualifying in seventh for his home race in the Charlotte Metropolitan area. He did not get off the gate as he had hoped in Moto 1 and found himself 12th after the first lap, but made his way to sixth on a track that was difficult to make passes on. In Moto 2, he was inside the top 10 after the opening lap and made his way to sixth by Lap 5, where he would finish to end the day sixth overall. Smith heads to the SMX Playoff 2 sixth in the points standings.
Anstie qualified 12th as he worked to find his comfort zone on the hybrid-style track. Unfortunately, it was a tough first moto as he found himself at the back of the field after the start. Undeterred, the British rider put his head down and made his way to 11th. In the second moto, he got a much better start in fourth and passed his teammate Romano on the following lap to move into podium position. Around the halfway point, he was shuffled to fourth as Deegan charged through to the front but made his way back to third with five laps remaining. Anstie continued to ride a strong pace and secured the podium finish, ending the day seventh overall and advancing to eighth in the points standings.
Romano made his SuperMotocross World Championship debut at the zMAX Dragway, and qualified 20th as he worked to find his flow on the tricky track. In 20th after the first lap of Moto 1, he kept pushing and finished 16th. Romano got a great start in the second moto despite the gate pick and grabbed the holeshot. The 19-year-old was shuffled to third on the opening lap and then passed by his teammate Anstie on Lap 2. He tried to maintain the positions but ultimately crossed the line 13th in the challenging conditions to end the day 14th overall.
Unfortunately, it was a tough return to racing for Thrasher, who had a crash in qualifying, which resulted in a hematoma on his leg. The Tennessee rider lined up for the first moto but ultimately withdrew from the race. He will be evaluated during the week, and an update will follow.
Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is Playoff 2 of the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 14.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“It was a great first round of the playoffs in Charlotte. Haiden rode awesome. He didn’t get the starts, but was riding on another level and won both motos. So the overall victory and maximum points to start the championship, we couldn’t be happier. Max had a tough first moto but got a great start in Moto 2 and finished third. We’re looking to keep building on that momentum next week. Starts hurt Jordon in both motos, but he rode well and finished sixth overall. Nick got a great start in Moto 2 and grabbed the holeshot, which was great. We have some things to work on. We’ll go back to work, come back stronger in Texas, and keep fighting for this championship.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“It worked out, with 1-1 on the day. I had some of the worst starts of my life, so I made it difficult for myself. I think I was sixth or seventh in the second moto, but I was buried in the first one and was around 13th. I had to catch up to the leader and ended up getting a pretty good gap in both motos. It was good racing. We’ve got some work to do this week.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It was a pretty good day. The track was very hard to pass on, for everyone but the number one machine. He made it look not so hard. I was struggling to make passes, but I rode really well. I just didn’t get off the gate great. So, it's the same thing as outdoors. I just need to try and figure out the starts, and we can be in it. Looking at the track map, I think next weekend is going to be a little more technical, with a bit more rhythms, which I think will benefit me. We’ll keep pushing.”
Max Anstie – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #37
“It was a solid second moto and opening round of SMX. I’m happy with the progression. We will keep pushing on to Round 2 in Texas.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“My first SMX race was fun. The biggest thing for me was the pace in the motos. The Moto 2 holeshot was an eye-opener, but it’s nothing we can’t fix. We’ll go back to work this week on some intensity and be stronger for the next two.”
2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 1 250SMX Results
2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Standings
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