‘I think today was the most consistent day I've had all season’ - Haiden Deegan on SMX Playoff 2 Win in Texas

Reigning 250SMX Champion and current points leader, Monster Energy Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan continues his impressive and dominant streak to four out of four moto wins in the 250SMX Playoff rounds, delivering another flawless performance with a 1-1 finish at the Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday for Round 2.

Two great starts, jumping to the front of the field early in both, and never looking back. After last week’s come-from-behind victories, Haiden was persistent on grabbing the starts and being consistent out front.

In the post-race press conference, Deegan shared insights into his race on Saturday and ahead of Las Vegas this weekend for the 250 SuperMotocross World Championship Finale.

Consistency is key, especially in these short playoff rounds ahead of the upcoming Las Vegas Finale race. “Yeah, just keep being consistent. I think today was the most consistent day I've had all season. My goal was to execute my starts again and see how it plays out. Anything can happen, especially in Vegas with the dirt getting super hard-packed.”

Deegan was out front in both motos by a significant gap, which comes with its own challenges. “I've really just put an emphasis on trying to learn how to control a race from up front. It’s about finding the point where you don't let the guy behind you get too close. It's challenging to push harder without making mistakes.”

Reflecting on his 2nd season, he acknowledged the learning curve he’s navigated. “It was just about doing it right. The first year was a learning year, not to try and show I’m the fastest, but to avoid injuries and learn. Now, it’s about winning every weekend. It took time to get past the rookie learning curve, but I feel we're getting to that point where we can dominate races.”

This weekend’s Texas Motor Speedway track was the shortest start we have witnessed all year, and a good qualifying spot was necessary for a good gate position and a great start. “Having a short start makes qualifying really matter because only a few gates are good. If you're on the outside, it’s tough to get a good start.”

The reigning 250SMX Champion has learned from his experience last year and influenced his consistency ahead of this year’s Playoffs. “The points system in the SMX Championship mixes things up, so you need consistent overall finishes. It’s about maintaining a strong performance throughout all rounds.”

Haiden humorously mentioned a recent ticket incident in his brand-new supercar. “How did you guys know about that? But yeah, I did get a ticket. It was for going 19 over, but the cop was chill about it.”

Regarding moving up to the 450 class for next year’s AMA Pro Motocross Championship, he is focused on his current class. “I'm sticking with the 250 class for now. Moving up too quickly could put me in a bad position. There's still a lot to achieve in the 250 class.”

Deegan expressed the challenging track conditions with his tire choices and handling the slick track throughout the day. “The scoop tire was gnarly on the slick track (Moto 1). It felt like it was sliding everywhere, so I switched back to the normal tire (traditional knobby tire for Moto 2). I made it work, but it was a challenge.”

As Haiden prepares for the final showdown in Las Vegas, he holds a nineteen-point advantage ahead of the field entering the Finale, looking good to wrap up his 2nd 250SMX Championship this weekend.