Supercross, Motocross Pro Haiden Deegan Thanks God for Rookie Year Wins
By Movieguide® Contributor
Seventeen-year-old and recent high school graduate Haiden Deegan began his professional AMA Supercross and Motocross careers in 2023, thanking Jesus for his wins.
Deegan races for the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha factory team and ended the season with three third-place finishes and three fourth-place finishes. He secured the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Rookie of the Year award.
Two weeks following the end of the Supercross season, Deegan moved outdoors for the 2023 AMA Motocross season.
The season consisted of 11 rounds of a two-race moto format. Of the eleven rounds, the racer finished on the podium six times. He secured his first-ever overall win of his career over the July 4 weekend in Buchanan, Michigan.
Deegan also secured a dominant performance at round eight in Washougal, Washington, where he went 1-1 overall. Following round eight, he was second in the championship points standings and in contention for a championship in his rookie year.
Unfortunately, the next weekend in New Berlin, New York, Deegan experienced a bike malfunction and could not finish the first moto, taking him out of title contention.
Deegan concluded his motocross season at fourth in the points standings for the championship.
At the final race of the season, Deegan received the 2023 AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year award.
“I have to give it up to the man who comes first, Jesus Christ. He’s kept me safe and got me through this whole supercross and motocross season, which was unreal,” the young racer said in a YouTube video posted on his family’s channel.
He added, “It’s a really big honor. This year’s been hard and never giving up because I’ll tell you about my bike blow up, I’ve crashed in first turns, came from last and I just fought till the end. I’m gonna go home and work my butt off and try to fight for this [championship] next year.”
Deegan shared a video of his final weekend of the season on his Instagram. He wrote, “P2 overall! Woke up super sick and happy we could fight thru! Definitely had every situation throwin at me this outdoor season but we learned a lot and marked off all the goals, now on to smx🤘🏻 and also thanks for all the support from the fans sorry I couldn’t come out and sign this weekend! @monsterenergy @starracingyamaha.”
Deegan is now home and training for the SuperMotocross Championship Playoffs taking place September 9 in Concord, North Carolina. The second round of playoffs will take place September 16 in Joliet, Illinois, and the Championship round will be held in Los Angeles, California, at the LA Coliseum, where he aims to take the title.
Movieguide® previously reported on Deegan:
Since Haiden is only 17, there was much talk about if he was ready to go professional yet…
“In his mind, he was ready years ago,” Brian added. “But as a parent, you have to help the kids, cause he’s still only 17, and in my mind, he’ll always be my kid. But you still have to help them make the right decision. Trust me, it was such a question to us of, ‘Why rush it?’”
“My biggest fear was crashing, having a crash, getting hurt and then all of a sudden, we all look bad, we all look like we made a bad decision. I don’t care if I look bad, I’ve looked bad a thousand times in my life. But I care more about his look,” Brian added.
Haiden placed fourth in his first ever professional supercross race this year. In addition, he has made his way to the podium three times in his first season.
