Deegan Wins East/West Showdown at Supercross Season Finale
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan takes top honors in the East/West Showdown, with teammate Jordon Smith finishing third for a strong finish for the team at the season finale in Salt Lake City / May 13, 2024 /
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan had a perfect finish to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, taking the win in the East/West Showdown at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 18-year-old’s third win of the season closed the gap to within four points of the leader and had him finishing comfortably in the runner-up spot in the 250SX East Championship. Teammate Jordon Smith joined him on the podium, finishing third to lock down a top-three finish in the 250SX West Championship. Nate Thrasher finished sixth in the tricky conditions, ending the year with a top-five finish in the Western regional 250 class. Unfortunately, it was a tough East/West Showdown for rookies Daxton Bennick and Nick Romano, who ended the night 17th and 19th, respectively. The Supercross Futures AMA National Championship also wrapped up at the season finale, with Gavin Towers finishing third aboard his YZ250F.
After a tough start to the year with an injury and getting caught up in a multi-rider pileup at the season opener in Detroit, it was a perfect end to the season for Deegan. He was the fastest qualifier and won the heat race in the 250SX East. When the gate dropped for the East/West Showdown Main Event, the Californian grabbed the holeshot and led from start to finish for his third win of the season. In the end, he finished the season runner-up in the 250SX East Championship and trailing the leader by just four points with three wins and a total of five podiums.
Smith had a strong start to the day, qualifying second and finishing fourth in the heat race in the 250SX West. In the main event, he got a great start in third behind his two teammates and made the pass for second on the third lap. The North Carolina rider ran a good pace up front and stayed on the heels of Deegan, but unfortunately, the two riders came together in the final laps while battling for the lead, and Smith was shuffled to third, where he would finish.
Thrasher qualified fourth and finished third in the 250SX West Heat Race. Unfortunately, he did not get off the gate as he had hoped and was sixth after the first lap. He made his way into the top five but ultimately crossed the line sixth in the challenging conditions, ending the year with a fifth in the 250SX West Championship.
The rookies, Bennick and Romano, faced a challenging main event at the East/West Showdown. Bennick qualified seventh and got a great start in the 250SX East Heat Race, riding a strong pace to finish second behind Deegan. Unfortunately, the North Carolina rider did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the main event and found himself towards the back of the field on a track that was difficult to make passes on, and finished 17th. Romano qualified ninth and finished sixth in the 250SX East Heat Race. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick for the main event, the New Yorker got a great start in the runner-up spot behind Deegan but ultimately was shuffled back to 19th, where he would finish.
It was a good learning year for both rookies, with Bennick earning a commendable ninth-place finish in the 250SX East Championship. In Supercross Futures, Gavin Towers had a strong finish to the season. The young rider from Pitthburgh qualified third and then got a good start in the main event in the runner-up spot, ultimately crossing the line third for a podium finish.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, also enjoyed a successful conclusion to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, earning the manufacturers title honors for the most points from the top-placed finisher in both 450 and 250 classes at each round.
In two weeks’ time, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads to Southern California for the Pro Motocross season opener and Round 18 of the SuperMotocross World Series at Fox Raceway at Pala on May 25.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“It was a great night for Haiden. He won everything on the day. He was the fastest qualifier, won the heat, and won the main, so he came here and did his job. He couldn’t have done anything more. Haiden came into this championship injured, and we were able to get some wins. In the end, we just came up four points short. Jordon had a great race. Having our guys finish first and third in the East/West Shootout is great. So overall, it was a great night. We did everything we could do, and we’re going into outdoors healthy. Let’s see what we can do outdoors.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“This is what we worked for. I came into it (the season) hurt with only two weeks on the bike, which is like only four or five days of riding. So we started the season off slow, but by the end of the season, I’ve shown what I’m capable of. It was too late, and I came up short by four points, but overall, it was a good season. I got three wins and last year I had podiums in Supercross, so we’re continuously going upwards, and that’s what we want. Next year, it will be a different story, but now it’s time to get rowdy for outdoors. I have high expectations for myself after how I did last year. So we’ll go back, get ready for outdoors, and come out swinging.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“The day was great. I felt really good on the bike all day, probably the best I’ve felt all year. I felt like I had that win tonight. It was just unfortunate, but we’ll keep fighting and go into outdoors and see what we can do there.”
Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #57
“It’s not how we wanted to end the season. All in all, it was good to finish with a top-five in the championship with the tough year that we had. We’re ready to come out swinging for outdoors.”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59
“I’m really happy with my heat race, so I’m gonna take the positives from today. I’ve had some really good rides and finishes this season. I definitely learned a lot this year, and I’m gonna be prepared to be in the fight next year. We showed we have the speed. I’ve just got to put myself in a position to win.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“I had a good day going until the main. Practice went great for me, and I qualified the best I have all season. I ended up sixth in the East Heat Race and then was up front there in the main, but the pace was intense, and my arms couldn’t keep up. I learned a lot this season. I’m happy to be able to race the whole season, even though results-wise, it wasn’t what we wanted. I’ve been through hell and back with my injuries the last two years, so I’m just grateful to be building myself back to where I belong.”
Gavin Towers – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #15
“The conditions were tough out there, and the main event was gnarly. We were after the 450 C group of qualifying, so the track was pretty beat up. I got off to a good start. Me and Drew (Adams) were on the same lap, and he ended up falling, so that put me a little back. I wish we could’ve got the win, but all in all I’m happy to leave here healthy and looking forward to seeing what my future brings.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Futures Salt Lake City Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Salt Lake City East/West Showdown Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship Standings
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship Standings
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
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