HAIDEN DEEGAN | GRIT-228 | 250MX

The number 238 of Haiden Deegan would return to the West Coast believing that he could contend at the front of the field once more...and after speeding through practice to accrue third as the checkered flag waved, there were few who doubted the rookie as he shifted into gear for the moto’s thereafter. As the thirty-second board would go sideways for the opening endeavor, it was Deegan who leapt from the launchpad and immediately commanded the attention of all in the field; with an incredible capturing of the hole-shot, all the while passing the green flag thereafter in the lead! From the earliest of laps, Deegan seemed to be in complete control of both the bike, and field around him; where he dictated a pace amongst this rutted (but slick) Northwestern racing surface. There was little on the track that could cause his focus to waver, where he was locked-into what was going on around him at all times, while flying atop “Horsepower Hill,” and sections thereafter. Minutes would pass, and Deegan continued to maintain a gap of multiple second(s) over veteran members of the opposition; including championship rivals, Justin Cooper and Hunter Lawrence. The number 238 would flourish through the most difficult ruts on the track, continuing to maintain the utmost momentum (without demonstrating mistakes) as the track would steadily lose moisture as well. It was a process of remaining precise on the throttle as blue-grooved aspects of the track appeared, but even then, the rookie would thrive! On occasion, he would be reminded from his mechanic as to how far the competition was behind him...but there was simply nothing that could stand in the way of Deegan earning the moto victory. And after leading sixteen laps prior to taking the checkered flag, Haiden’s confidence couldn’t have been higher prior to beginning the second moto of the afternoon! The number 238 would occupy a fourth-place standing as the green flag was thrown to begin the second race of the day, however, he quickly advanced into third after passing Seth Hammaker. It was at that point (within the first few minutes of action) that he could sense that Honda’s Hunter Lawrence was persistent in moving by him...but the courage of the rookie was immense as he sped to some of the highest velocities of the afternoon, regardless of class! Lawrence would then fall when attempting to initiate a pass on Deegan, leaving Deegan to third while he focused on Levi Kitchen who was ahead. The thorough act of steadily chipping away at Levi Kitchen would be a task that was completed on the seventh circuit...sending Haiden to second, with now only Justin Cooper to pass! He knew the veteran would be confident and hard to break in the latter half of the moto, but few could’ve predicted the absolute clinic of speed in which Deegan was about to showcase. Running lap-time(s) that were nearly four-seconds faster than that of his competition, the rookie would somehow manage to gain incredible amounts of time on that Justin Cooper — leading to a pass on the thirteenth lap, as he aired-out the wall-jump on the infield! Landing with authority and an overwhelming sense of adrenaline, Deegan couldn’t be stopped from that moment and onward...where he pieced together the final four laps of competition with perfect execution, en route to another moto victory, and an overall sweeping of the 250cc field; pushing him to only three points, behind Hunter Lawrence for the outdoor championship!

DIRTY 100 LOGO

More from GRIT

CHRIS BLOSE | GRIT-207 | 250SX

CHRIS BLOSE | GRIT-207 | 250SX With a newfound roster of riders being set to battle in Houston, the industry would anticipate fireworks from the moment practice began on Saturday. An optimal course had been developed for all of these athletes to compete on, including none other than veteran, Chris Blose. The Monster Energy Pro…

Read More

CULLIN PARK | GRIT-207 | 250SX

CULLIN PARK | GRIT-207 | 250SX Exhibiting a tireless work ethic in the weeks leading up to the inception of the 250cc East Coast Championship, Cullin Park couldn’t wait for his wheels to roll onto the raceway in Houston, Texas. Press Day would go rather well for all involved parties, and would forecast the specific…

Read More

CHANCE HYMAS | GRIT-207 | 250SX

CHANCE HYMAS | GRIT-207 | 250SX With all in his supporting cast working with a resilient mindset, Chance Hymas would embody the same characteristics while racing the clock on Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium. This track would possess a good mix of technical sections, along with adequate straightaways for a motorcycle to unleash its true…

Read More

TOM VIALLE | GRIT-207 | 250SX

TOM VIALLE | GRIT-207 | 250SX Categorized as one of the most talented members of this 250cc division, the resumé of Tom Vialle would speak volumes. He seized every opportunity thus far in his career and was certain to be fully focused on the task(s) at hand while competing in Southern Texas on Saturday. Surveying…

Read More

MICHAEL MOSIMAN | GRIT-207 | 250SX

MICHAEL MOSIMAN | GRIT-207 | 250SX Yearning to make an impact at the season opener, the demeanor of Michael Mosiman was one of determination as practice began on Saturday afternoon. He would do whatever it took to make his way to the front of the line for qualification and pressed forward as much as possible…

Read More

ADAM CIANCIARULO | GRIT-207 | 450SX

ADAM CIANCIARULO | GRIT-207 | 450SX With Malcolm Stewart unfortunately sidelined with injury, riders like Adam Cianciarulo knew that there would be position(s) to grab well within the range of a top-ten overall. But the desired accolades weren’t going to be easy to obtain, especially with Justin Cooper (and others) amongst an influx of riders…

Read More

JOEY SAVATGY | GRIT-207 | 450SX

JOEY SAVATGY | GRIT-207 | 450SX A mix of veterans and younger competitors were amongst the field of highly talented 450cc athletes in Houston; and with the momentum that Joey Savatgy had recently been accruing, it was apparent that he’d be a betting favorite (for a single-digit finish) by the time the main event would…

Read More

KEN ROCZEN | GRIT-207 | 450SX

KEN ROCZEN | GRIT-207 | 450SX Though the track was a bit moist when practices began, Ken Roczen would be able to oblige to the conditions and acquire a bundle of serious lap-times throughout Saturday afternoon. With Chase Sexton running near the fifty-second mark, there were a myriad of riders that were following suit in…

Read More

JUSTIN COOPER | GRIT-207 | 450SX

JUSTIN COOPER | GRIT-207 | 450SX The plethora of switchbacks this track offered provided excellent racing for the round of Houston; where riders were ultra competitive from the moment free practice began. Justin Cooper and his Yamaha were one of the most eye-catching tandems of the 450cc qualification realm, launching the middle quadruple jump with…

Read More

JUSTIN BARCIA | GRIT-207 | 450SX

JUSTIN BARCIA | GRIT-207 | 450SX Advancing through the first few rounds of the series, Justin Barciawould have his sights set on generating a promising performance at NRG Stadium. Not only would this round offer new soil compositions, but it would be a closed-roof course…which was a blessing to many on the tour who yearned…

Read More

Recent News

CHASE SEXTON – GRIT 234 450SMX

CHASE SEXTON | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX With the eyes of the industry upon him, Honda’s Chase Sexton would strive for the highest honor(s) while stationed in Los Angeles over the weekend. It had been a long road to get to this point, where the number twenty-three had rekindled his early season momentum in recent…

Read More

PHIL NICOLETTI – GRIT 234 450SMX

PHIL NICOLETTI | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX The veteran, Phil Nicoletti, reiterated that his prowess on this hybrid “SX” circuit was top tier as he choreographed countless laps amongst a multitude of practice sessions. Regardless of speeding through hard-packed surfaces, rutted bowl turns, or the treacherous sand section, the New York native seemed to embody…

Read More

FREDDIE NOREN – GRIT 234 450SMX

FREDDIE NOREN | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX Suzuki’s Freddie Noren would prove that his versatility was top tier while stationed in Los Angeles for the final round of the SMX Playoff series. Though not necessarily known as a Supercross specialist, the rider from Sweden seemed to flourish on the hybrid layout that was designed inside…

Read More

TY MASTERPOOL – GRIT 234 450SMX

TY MASTERPOOL | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX The continuous streak of excellent results was once again displayed on behalf of Texas’ Ty Masterpool as the third round of the SMX Playoff’s came to fruition. Though known to excel on the outdoor circuit, Ty had certainly proved to all in the industry that his talents were…

Read More

GARRETT MARCHBANKS – GRIT 234 450SMX

GARRETT MARCHBANKS | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX ClubMX Yamaha’s Garrett Marchbanks refused to finish his 2023 season with anything less than a sensational performance while stationed in Los Angeles. The newfound 450cc rider had been constantly excelling and striving for greatness, which would be obtained in the outdoor championship prior to embarking on the initial…

Read More

COLT NICHOLS – GRIT 234 450SMX

COLT NICHOLS | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX After showcasing an outstanding array of speed and phenomenal line choices in practice, Kawasaki’s Colt Nichols was in constant contention for a top-tier(ed) position. This undoubtedly set the tone for the races that followed, where the Oklahoma resident would nod his head with assurance as the referee scanned…

Read More

ADAM CIANCIARULO – GRIT 234 450SMX

ADAM CIANCIARULO | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX Florida’s Adam Cianciaurlo continued on his pursuit of garnering a solid overall finish in the SMX Championship, following notable efforts in each individual series thus far. The 450cc class was filled with riders of the highest caliber, but “AC” welcomed the efforts of all as he initiated the…

Read More

COOPER WEBB – GRIT 234 450SMX

COOPER WEBB | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX The 2023 off-season was just around the corner, but Yamaha’s Cooper Webb (who recently signed with the Star Racing assembly) was focused on the present moment more than anything else -where he hoped to acquire as much knowledge about the motorcycle as possible before entering into the latter…

Read More

KEN ROCZEN – GRIT 234 450SMX

KEN ROCZEN | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX Following last week’s events between he and Jett Lawrence, Suzuki’s Ken Roczen would be focused on nothing but the checkered flag as action came to fruition in Southern California. The German rider felt as if this was his moment to excel, and his stamina, race-craft, and overall prowess…

Read More

JETT LAWRENCE – GRIT 234 450SMX

JETT LAWRENCE | GRIT-234 | 450 SMX Seeking to conclude a legendary run in his initial 450cc season on a high note, Jett Lawrence sought to ravage the track within the LA Memorial Coliseum as the lights grew brightest on Saturday evening. After battling at the highest tier of the pack for qualification, no-one could…

Read More