Deegan Strengthens Championship Bid with Fourth-Place Finish at Daytona
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan overcame adversity to finish fourth and move within three points of the 250SX Championship lead / Mar 4, 2024 /
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan finished fourth to move within striking distance of the championship lead at last night's Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. His rookie teammates Daxton Bennick and Nick Romano were 10th and 13th, respectively, on one of the toughest Supercross tracks in recent memory at the Daytona International Speedway. In the Supercross Futures race, Gavin Towers soldiered on after a couple of crashes to finish 18th.
Deegan had a tough start to the day with a big get-off in the first qualifying session. He was thankfully okay, but with rain arriving and drenching the track, the first qualifying session was the one that set the stage for the heat races, and he qualified 20th. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick for his heat race, he took a runner-up finish and then grabbed the holeshot in the main event. As the track continued to deteriorate, Deegan rode a smart race and kept it on two wheels, ultimately crossing the line fourth and scoring valuable points in the championship. The title chase in the Eastern Regional 250 class continues to heat up with five riders separated by three points. Deegan is tied for fourth and within three points of the top spot.
Bennick got the day off to a great start, earning fastest qualifier honors in the 250SX East class. He got a good start in his heat race and was battling up front in the runner-up spot, but unfortunately crashed and finished fifth. In the main event, he found himself at the back of the field after the start. Undeterred, the rookie put in an impressive charge to seventh but unfortunately had a crash in the final laps and finished 10th. Bennick is also in the hunt for the title with eight points from the top spot and seventh in the standings.
Fellow rookie Romano had a tough start to his day with some crashes. He struggled to find his flow on the tricky track and ended up qualifying 18th, but regrouped for the night show and finished sixth in his heat race. The New Yorker had a solid start in the main event and was battling inside the top 10, but unfortunately came together with another rider and finished 13th.
In his second Supercross Futures race of the season, Towers had a solid start to the day and qualified second. He then grabbed the holeshot in the main event and was battling up front until a big get-off on the opening lap. He quickly rejoined the race but unfortunately had another crash in the challenging conditions and soldiered on to finish the race in 18th.
Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team is Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship and Round 9 of the SuperMotocross World Series at the Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 9.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager“The night actually went really well, considering how it could have gone. This track was so gnarly. Haiden rode smart and ended up fourth, and he’s three points out of the lead, which is great. There are five guys right there, but we’re in this thing, and we’re going to focus on that.
“Dax had a great start to the day and qualified first but struggled a bit in the night show. He went from dead last in the main and clawed his way up to seventh, but made one small mistake on the last lap and ended up 10th. He’s frustrated with it, but this is his third race. We’ll keep working with him to get him back up front.”
“Romano and Gavin, it was the same thing – small mistakes will cost you a lot at this track. We’re just happy to leave here healthy with our guys and Haiden within three points of the lead. We’re here to fight for this championship and will keep chipping away at it.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38“I’m happy with where we finished at Daytona, after that gnarly get-off in qualifying. We are in the fight and ready to get back in a stadium in Alabama!”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59“I never rode a track that gnarly for sure. It was a really good day. I was first in qualifying and felt good on the bike. I was riding my butt off, but things happen. I crashed in my heat when I was in second, and then I made it all the way to sixth or seventh in main from a dead-last start and then crashed again. So there was some good and bad from today. I was trying super hard, but this track’s gnarly and it got me a few times tonight. I’m not going to stress. It’s my rookie year, and I shouldn’t be beating these guys, but I know I can. I’m looking forward to the race next weekend.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511“Honestly for my first Daytona, I was pretty gassed up. I felt really good yesterday (during press day) when it was dry, and today the rain got the better of us. I just struggled all day. I couldn’t find my flow, and I hit the deck a few times, but we fought through it. The track was gnarly. I think the gnarliest, roughest track that I’ve ridden in my life. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but it was a good day of learning, and we’re healthy and going to move on to Alabama. It’s my birthday weekend, so maybe we’ll do something special.”
Gavin Towers – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #15“We made progress all day, and I felt a lot better than I did at A2, but the track was so gnarly. I got the holeshot and was battling up front in the main. I just tried a different line on the triple, and it cost me. I went down again, and from there, I just did what I could do. I’m bummed, to say the least, but happy I’m leaving here healthy. Now we’re on to some outdoor races and then back to Supercross Futures in St. Louis.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Supercross Futures Daytona Results 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Daytona Results 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship Standings About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USAYamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company's ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
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