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You would be hard pressed to find anyone not impressed with Monster EnergyYamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan’s first moto at Spring Creek on Saturday.
After going down in the first turn and watching the entire field ride by, Deegan went to work. He charged all the way from 40th to fourth—even putting together his fastest lap (2:00.860) on lap 14 of 17.
While Deegan admitted he “blew himself out” in the first moto and didn’t have the “spark” he needed in moto 2, he still managed to take second in the moto behind Hunter Lawrence and a season-best second overall on the day.
“I had to do it at RedBud, but I made a whole lot more positions,” he said post-race. “And I felt like it was one of my best rides, I’d say, on my 450 so far coming through the pack and just charging for the whole 35.”
Coming off three overall podiums in the last four rounds, Deegan is beginning to figure out the 450 as he enters the latter portions of his rookie campaign.
“I was strong on the bike, which I’m still strong now, but I’m still building myself up to the 450,” he said. “And once I get that turned over, I think we’ll be chilling.”
See what Deegan had to say post-race about his comeback in moto 1, racing against Eli Tomac and much more.
That first moto was awfully impressive, very similar to your ride at RedBud as well coming from the back of the pack. Can you talk to us about your difficulties at the beginning of the race and then how you made that happen?
Haiden Deegan: Obviously, went down in the first turn. It was a little bit of a drag race coming to that first turn and then little bro decided he doesn’t want to turn right, but it’s cool. I’m pretty sure he literally just let his brother by doing that, so that wasn’t the smartest. But got up and I was like, “It’s going to be a dog fight.” I had to do it at RedBud, but I made a whole lot more positions. And I felt like it was one of my best rides, I’d say, on my 450 so far coming through the pack and just charging for the whole 35. I was laying down super good lap times at the end of it. And I felt super strong. I would say sent it so hard, that first moto, to get up to fourth from last, that I kind of blew myself out. So second moto, it was more of a dead pace. I felt like I didn’t have that spark that I needed. The boys were able to get away pretty quick. And by the time I got into third, it was too big of a gap.
In that first moto, it seems like you got to ninth or so and then you clicked another gear to get all the way to fourth. Where did you find that?
My mechanic put Tomac on the pit board and I was like, I mean, shoot, Tomac’s the beast mode. I’m going to show him some beast mode right here. I got to his rear wheel and I just sent it. And it was like I knew there was going to be probably a group upfront once I got around those guys. I was like, if I put a hard charge in right now, I have a feeling I could get to the top five. It’s going to be hard. And I ended up getting, it was Cairoli and Barcia were battling together and I ended up being able to pick them off in the last two laps and get to fourth.
It seems like the practices and in the morning and even the first moto obviously was really good. And we saw some bike improvements at Southwick and obviously those translated over. We’ve talked about it a little bit on the podcast, but it seems like in that second moto at RedBud and here, you’ve had a few problems trying to get back to that pace. Do you need the bike to be in a bigger window? Are you still working on bike set up for that second moto when it gets a little rougher?
Yeah, I think bike setup is a big part of it. Another part of it is when you crash in the first turn, you spend a lot of energy. I’d say that’s probably … I’m taking over more as the energy part than the bike setup. We know I need to get the bike right. I need to dial that in and it’s going to take time. It’s my first year and the 450 is a little more difficult than a 250 to set up. A 250, you kind of can just bulldog it a little more in a 450. Unfortunately, where I’m at, you can’t really bulldog it as much. You got to kind of get that bike dialed in. It’s taken time. I got a long road ahead of me, long career, so it’s going to take time to get right, but it’s going the right direction.
Talk about that difference between the 250 and the 450 in regard to your fitness. In the 250, you could definitely make it the motos no problem, but also you didn’t really have anybody pushing you. And in this class, you’re really having to push to the end and then handle the 450. Is it different or not really?
Yeah, it’s heavier, it’s faster. Southwick, I was pretty strong. Both 35s I was able to hold off Prado in the second moto and I felt good there. I felt like I had good fitness and it’s just a little unfortunate. You go down in the first turn and you eat roost and you hold your breath for 35 minutes going through a pack and it’s going to wear you out. 250, it’s a lighter bike, easier to throw around. I was strong on the bike, which I’m still strong now, but I’m still building myself up to the 450. And once I get that turned over, I think we’ll be chilling.
You mentioned it a little bit earlier about seeing Tomac and passing him. I’m assuming you grew up watching him and maybe idolizing him. What’s it like to have this opportunity to race against him for the first time in your career?
Yeah, for sure. Especially when you’re coming up to pass and look, I got a little nervous. I’m like, “Man, that’s Tomac right there.” Even though I’ve been taking off podiums and stuff in the 450 class, it’s still a shock to me. It’s like you’re a little kid watching Eli Tomac. I know I got a little nervous pulling up on him like that. I was like, damn, this is a cool feeling. But it’s exciting for sure.
Now kind of on the similar note of moving up to the 450 class, when you were moving around Barcia, he got pretty close and you went off the track. Do you feel initiated into the 450 class now because of that?
Yeah, I was getting hazed. Nah, it’s cool. I figured it was going to do its last lap. I probably would’ve done the same thing. It’s all cool. It wasn’t too dirty. It was just a little block pass. I’ve done a lot worse and I’m sure he’s done a lot worse too. It is what it is. We talked after whatever. It was all cool. But yeah, it’s fun like that. I like going head-to-head racing like that. And especially last lap, it’s going to go down.
Photos: octopi.media
