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Monster Energy/Star Racing Yamaha’s Haiden Deegan has had a wild season so far and Birmingham was the cherry on top of the sundae. From practice to his heat race to the main event, he was a big talking point all weekend.
I want to know where everyone stands with Deegan at this very moment. He has the largest following in the sport and looking at the comments on social media lately, it seems like more people are against him than with him.
Yesterday the AMA released the penalty report and Deegan was listed twice. He was fined for the way he acted on the track in the heat race with Seth Hammaker, which included his trip to the Pro Circuit truck after the race. Then he was also docked two positions for his move on the first lap of the main event when he cut off a part of the track.
I’m not giving Deegan the entire blame on this heat race start. It looks like a racing incident to me. Deegan cut over and Hammaker wasn’t letting off. It’s two riders going for the start and stuff happens. What I’m not cool with is Deegan yelling at Hammaker on the track and trying to find him after the race. Shoutout to Hammaker’s mom for telling Deegan to skedaddle and not escalating the moment any further.
Of course we can’t mention Birmingham and Deegan without talking about his last corner move on Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha’s Coty Schock for seventh place. Schock was knocked off of the track in the last corner and apparently injured his already injured collarbone enough where it will require surgery.
Now, don’t get this twisted. This is not a Haiden Deegan hit piece. I’m just looking at everything in a microscope right now because he is a superstar and he has all the eyes and TV cameras on him at all times. Do I think he intended to hurt Schock in that move? Absolutely not.
Deegan’s list of questionable moves this year is already quite long and we’re only four rounds into the series. Don’t forget that he received a warning after flipping the bird to Tom Vialle in Detroit. He was also given a code of conduct violation after Arlington for his ghost ride. Birmingham was the first event that he was fined.
Dangerboy needs to calm down. Even he has to agree with that. I can’t imagine the pressure that he’s under over there in the Star Racing rig. This is his championship to win and when you start in a major hole like he did in Detroit, you’re going to see some feisty moves here and there. It’s a short series and points need to be made up. He can’t be fighting over seventh if he wants to win this championship, he needs podiums and wins.
Looking ahead to Indy this weekend, Deegan is still in a great spot points wise. He has five rounds left in the championship and he’s only 12 points down on Vialle, who just took over the red plate from Max Anstie.
Let’s be honest here: Deegan is messing up, he’s not making any friends out on the track. He probably doesn’t care. He needs to calm down. He’s losing some of his fan base. However, the fans in this sport have a way of coming back around to riders they like.
Remember, they just booed Jett Lawrence a few weeks ago. Deegs has an image to uphold as well. Is this all a part of the plan? I don’t think it is. I think it’s just a kid who is going for it and he sees all the dreams that he’s been wanting right at his finger tips. The “learning kid” excuse isn’t something that I’m going to use to apologize for any of his actions this season. He’s got to take full responsibility for his actions, which is what his press release quote did.
“Birmingham didn’t go as planned. I will always ride with heart. I’m sorry that the emotions got the best of me tonight. We’ll get back to work and come out swinging in Indy,” he said.
So, where are you at on Haiden Deegan and his antics this year?
Welcome to the Danger Zone, baby.
Main Image: Octopi Media
Still a fan. I’m ok with the fine. Hopefully it helps cool his head. The two position penalty is BS. He did not gain an advantage. In fact he came out behind riders he had been in front of before the carnage. Also don’t have an issue with his last turn move for 7th place. He was going for position/points. He had the inside line on Schock, who did turn down early. It was not a take out move, it was an aggressive racing move. Does it suck Schock is out? Of course it does, but this racing and he was already injured, so any type of crash could have done the same thing.
But we all have to admit Supercross is getting soft as far as the “Bumping is Racing” goes.
I was never a fan, but I’m at the point I’m rooting against him. He thinks he’s entitled and the world revolves around him. Newsflash, you’re not special kid. He’ll win races and championships, but he needs to be humbled. Bad.
Im 62 years old, raced motocross locally my whole life. I have been an avid fan of the Deegans and mostly Haiden since he has been a young toddler. I always follow him and his mindset was awesome until you became pro. You need a lesson in humility, stop the fly off the handle antics. Us fans of yours are not thrilled with you anymore because of it. Pick your words carefully when you are on camera. Please listen to these words Haiden:
BE HUMBLE
BE KIND
BE RESPECTFUL
You have time to turn this around !!!!!
I am not a fan at all, he’s like friese, bad for the sport, he’s the most disliked rider I’n our house on Saturday night watching the races. He’s got a horrible personality.