HAIDEN DEEGAN V HUNTER LAWRENCE – SHOTS FIRED!

Yamaha’s Pro-class rookie, Haiden Deegan, threw down a landmark performance at the AMA Outdoor’s Washougal round in the 250MX class on the weekend, securing a flawless 1-1 victory. Meanwhile, the current championship leader, Australia’s Hunter Lawrence, had a challenging day after struggling with starts and, despite fighting back to a second in the opening moto, he crashed while attempting a pass while attacking Deegan in Moto 2 and had to settle for a fourth.

In the second moto, Deegan stepped it up ever further, overtaking teammate Justin Cooper with around five laps remaining to take the lead. He then unleashed two remarkable laps (in “Eli Tomac-like beast mode”, according to James Stewart from the commentary booth), extending his lead to a staggering 8 seconds by the chequered flag. Now with just a three-point deficit to Lawrence in the standings, Deegan’s intentions to have a full-blown tilt at the title were on show for all to see. And the partisan American crowd lapped it up.

After clinching the victory, the 17-year-old rookie took to the podium and delivered some pointed words: “I’ve been watching too much David Goggins and Andrew Tate; I put my heart into this thing, baby. Man, it’s nerve-racking. And I’m sure it’s nerve-racking for Hunter too, as he’s supposed to be winning these things. I’m glad I can put an American up front for the fans.”

With three rounds to go in the 11-round Outdoor series and just 3 points separating Lawrence and Deegan – the Aussie and the American – we are in for a serious showdown!

250MX Class Standings

1. Hunter Lawrence (Australia) 300pts
2. Haiden Deegan (United States) 297pts
3. Justin Cooper (United States) 281pts
4. R.J. Hampshire (United States) 274pts
5. Jo Shimoda (Japan) 269pts