The Truth of the Claim Against Haiden Deegan's Bike | Part 2 - Matt Walker and Donnie Luce 29

In part two of our deep dive into the claim against Haiden Deegan's Star Yamaha YZ250F at Loretta Lynn's, we talk to Matt Walker (Brennan's trainer at the time) and Donnie Luce (Yamaha's amateur program manager) to break down their involvements and answer our questions.
Credit: Michael Lindsay
Related:
Matt Walker
Brian Deegan
Haiden Deegan
Loretta Lynn National
Donnie Luce
29 comments

View replies to: The Truth of the Claim Against Haiden Deegan's Bike | Part 2 - Matt Walker and Donnie Luce

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D_Mash336
3 years ago
Something smells fishy still. Too many “coincidences”.

At what point did The rider and trainer decided to cut ties with each other on a business level and who cut the ties. Rider or trainer?
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MotoX85
3 years ago
After watching the video of the claiming kids mechanic, Walker needs his his head knocked off and now we know the two are complete liars
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neverwasfastenuf
3 years ago
Walker and Luce don't come off as telling a reliable version of what happened. Those motors that Luce said would happen should have beat Schofield back home or been given to him right then. They probably had enough motors there to just give them to him then.
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forensic
3 years ago
Donnie from Yamaha, why are you getting involved in this cowboy stuff.
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forensic
3 years ago
Yamaha is a corporation and he is a rep. This claim is within the rules of the sport and it is not appropriate for him to get involved in politics. Now he's appearing in a video alongside Matt Walker spouting off with a big dip in his lip. This is not a professional look.
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bret959
3 years ago
Plain and simple if the star bike was legal they wouldn't have cared. To many people are terrified of someone getting the unobtainable.
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theprinterguy!
3 years ago
And Brennan would have had a #38 (Danger Boy) bike and getting lotsa clicks on youtube...
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chipj
3 years ago
It’s clear that Deegan threw a fit and applied pressure to enough people that they scared the kid into withdrawing his rightful claim. It’s also clear that Star has parts in that motor that they didn’t want getting into someone else’s hands (let alone an engine builder). Guess what - TOO BAD! The rule is the rule, they just got caught. The irony here is that the one thing Deegan was worried about ‘being defamed’ is exactly what has happened. He looks like an ass and so does Star Yamaha.
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mtbrider64
3 years ago
Total loss of respect for MXSports, Matt Walker, Brian Deegan, and the Yamaha rep. A rule is a rule. Plain and simple. This was handled so badly, at so many levels.
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chipj
3 years ago
Here’s the win-win PR move:

Deegan/Star/Yamaha invite Brennan and his dad down to the goat farm where they present him with a Star bike (doesn’t need to be the top shelf spec). He and the Star team have a ride day (if any of them are available but for sure Haiden) and they shoot videos and blast it over social media ‘it was a misunderstanding’ and now we’ve made it right.
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bigjam
3 years ago
Nope never gonna have the LL bike so it’s over on that
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chipj
3 years ago
Doesn't have to be the actual LL bike - just one like it. It would be such an easy thing to do - it baffles me that they haven't taken any steps to correct any of this...but maybe this is just the arrogance that the Deegans et al operate under.
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theprinterguy!
3 years ago
We've seen most if not all videos on this situation-
Thanks Mike for bringing it all together and keeping a steady tone all the way though.
I'm somewhat befuddled- all the "Tip-Toeing" I'm watching these guy's doing. Look's like the had a meeting prior talking to you. I like some of the clarification Tim Cotter presented rounding out his duties. The AMA Brian guy was good too but I felt he was holding back as everyone on the other side were as well. B Deegan- a no show (basically the 5th). "The Meeting" TC, BD, Brennan and Motor Dude" and Motor Dude was not in trailer very long and waited outside with another witness. 1. I heard two stories on the AMA Brian, That he came past/spoke Motor Dude to the trailer and Brennan exited shortly after- to whereas TC, BD & AMA Brian stated that he was in the trailer from the beginning, and entire trailer meeting was at least 20 mins long according to the two outside. The second time they asked him why are you doing this etc., is where all the "Tampering" started. You questioned repeatedly, which is harassing maybe bullying a "minor".
Part 2 MW And DL- It's easy to see how high strung MW is and don't know why- Mike you didn't ask Matt about the threats (at least 2 or 3 times) to- not I want, feel like- but "I'm going to kick your A__!" Those are violent threats of physical harm! They're not acquaintances to where they were playing about. You asked Matt about any statements Donnie made about "Cant let that motor get out there" or "You cannot fix "that" motor", to where that was Donnie's question to answer and we need that answer from him. We're not hearing any resoultion fore Brennan only that Donnie was "too busy" but now right after this interview- I'll be calling them- Plz. This kid (not an angel but is 17) following the rules has been harassed, bullied "repeatedly", his friend threatened with physical harm and has had his bikes taken away and has nothing and looks to be blackballed. That's a very scary area to leave a 17 year old. I am afraid for him and "You" should be too. They not him broke the rules.
Tampering: Brian Deegan (Not Hayden), Tim Cotter (Davey C- do the rt thing here plz), Matt W (Sheriff should have taken him).
Brennan and Motor Dude aren't making this up which is Crickets on the other side.
Donnie- You don't seem very believable with short answers and your omission of "This motor/bike can't leave..." or "Handshake" for??? A prolevel bike was brought to a Amateur national that does not belong there as your brand is cheating parent's who spend much more that they should on a better life for their kids and you industry guys the "We Support" are robbing us. Star Racing (Prob not the first) made this whole increasing large can of worms possible- all by themselves and a good to suppress cheating rule was invoked. If Yamaha does not step in and do something this week (so big now- you give/hand over two brand new GYTR bikes of his choosing when they come out and keep- for the next 5 years- because Brennan will be approached if not already by an atttorney that will come in and clean house on Yamaha, MX Sports, & Matt Walker's personal and business- Period. FIX THIS YAMAHA! If this kid goes down the desperation path- His Dad will own Yamaha- Wanna bet?
Should have just given a replica bike and a crate motor and let him hang out at the compound- who know's, he is a very good rider with some skins on the wall.
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lostmoto22
3 years ago
I lost all respect for the Deegans after this stunt. I also won't support next year's racer for LL since it's obviously not a fair playing field.
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MaxPower
3 years ago
its clear that deegan on won because of the bike. he probably wouldnt have qualified for LL without it. Im not saying Id win but Id get top 5 on that bike.. I am going to peel off my Metal Mullisha graphics off my 97 CR now
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RiverockMX
3 years ago
New rule change for claiming a bike: Claimants may be interrogated, bullied, swore at and threatened.
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walshmarka
3 years ago
I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos about this & Brennan Schofield himself claims he earned the money to make the claim by being a Motorcycle Mechanic, Brennan’s motor builder, Derek Harris followed that up by saying Brennan “is a great mechanic, I’d hire him to work for me in a second if I had the means to do so…” okay when Donnie Luce of Yamaha USA was interviewed, he said Brennan claimed he’d blown up several of his Yamahas…something doesn’t quite line up there. And multiple times people have claimed Donnie said “ we have a lot of technology in that engine we don’t want released to the public.” And “Derek or your won’t be able to obtain all the necessary parts to fully service this motor” now, Haiden DNF’d one moto after Evan Ferry’s foot peg got caught in Haiden’s spokes….I don’t think it was a factory motor, I believe that motor had something like Variable Valve Timing, or independent Electronic Controlled valves, or something like that…
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bigjam
3 years ago
He admits the dealer was told not to do this at the 16 minute mark dude wtf
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bigjam
3 years ago
29 minute mark sorry
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bigjam
3 years ago
Brennan says Walker asked him to come by not they happened to be driving by so 🤷‍♂️
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theprinterguy!
3 years ago
Matt Walker texted Brennan at 10:12pm and said "come to my camp". Brennan provided the screenshot in FN Hoppers latest video...
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bigjam
3 years ago
End of the day it’s a rule you should not be called out for following the rules Brennan did nothing wrong the companies did
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bigjam
3 years ago
Did he threaten to beat the shit out of the engine builder?
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theprinterguy!
3 years ago
Yes he got "in his face" more than once. You can see either on TylerLiveasy or Cooksey media interview with the motor builder.
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theprinterguy!
3 years ago
Also in Hopper's latest video with Brennan- He actually provided a screen shot of Matt W's text to come to his camp and get this- it was at 10:12pm!!!
Somebody was pulling out all the stops.
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bigjam
3 years ago
Not a bully but I’ll whip your ass?
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chipj
3 years ago
This has turned into much more than just a bike claim. Its taken on a 'Big bully beating up the little guy' angle and that's extremely damaging for Deegan/Star/Yamaha and Matt Walker. And I have to comment that after watching Matt Walker's piece of the video, his body language is saying 'I'm lying'.
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