HAIDEN DEEGAN

Following a decisive effort at Fox Raceway last week, Yamaha’s Haiden Deegan appeared eager to reclaim his status atop the throne as practice concluded at the Hangtown venue. He was remarkable, and seemed rather daring when rounding the track for practice — in constant contention for the pole position, and as the gate(s) fell for the first moto, all in the field were chasing that of Chance Hymas around the track. Championship rival (Levi Kitchen) was also within the top-two, while Haiden seemed to occupy a standing of eighth. Battling alongside a multitude of Yamaha opponents, he steadily would work his way past a myriad of competitors...eventually into a solidified third-place residency where Levi Kitchen was next to be overtaken. Stalking his prey, the moment to pounce ahead of the former teammate was upon him — with three minutes and forty-seconds left on the clock, Deegan scrubbed his way over the tabletop just before the mechanics area...making the pass stick upon landing! His commanding presence aboard the Yamaha 250F was portrayed with wild revving, and once into the runner-up position, Honda’s Chance Hymas was the next to be located. That opportunity would occur, at roughly the twenty-nine minute mark — where just after the opening corners, the infamous slanting-uphill stretch of track was now seen as a catalyst piece of racetrack for Deegan to take another leap forward! He would sling-shot from outside to inside while Hymas drifted wide, overtaking the number forty-eight as he crested the lip at the top of the hill. Now into the lead, there was little that could deter Haiden from the winner’s circle...and as he ultimately sealed the deal per se, Deegan crossed the finish line with a victorious designation! Haiden’s start in the second moto was spectacular, where he took the hole-shot and early lead ahead of Ty Masterpool and Levi Kitchen. He seemed to be “gone” per se, checked out from the field with flawless laps...until an unforeseen crash would force him to the ground just before the mechanic’s area — with only five minutes left on the clock! Rebounding in second, it was Tom Vialle who was now ahead of him...but the willingness to press forward couldn’t be denied. Deegan would ultimately salvage the second place finish in the moto after the wild crash which threw him in a spinning manner off of the motorcycle — and his accumulation of scores, was enough to designate him as the overall winner!