2026, Can Tomac best Deegan?

Give Haiden a year to learn the class, like his 250 rookie year all over again, but in 450’s. I'm giving prado a pass this year because what he's doing is so different than what he's used to.

Eli will be on arguably the hardest bike to setup next year, should be even keel.

Outdoors, maybe. Unless Tomac feels it on the KTM right away.
Indoors, no way.

Tomac probably won’t beat HD a lot, but Jett will. 

Tomac will consistently beat Deegan.  Deegan is fast, but Tomac is smart, experienced AND fast.

I think Deegan has a lot ahead of him to best the top 5 450 guys. Aside from Tomac and Jett, Chase, Jcoop, Plessy and Hunta aren’t slouches either.

Deegan will also learn, that he can't push the 450 guys around like he does the 250 guys. They will give it back way more, and theirs more depth.

I hope Barcia gets some of his speed back, since him vs Deegan would be interesting to watch. And we can't count out El Hombre either, it'll make for some great entertainment.

I think Deegan will be very competitive for sure, specially when he does 250 SX again which gives him more time to prepare for outdoors. Wouldn't be surprised if he's right there with Tomac/Chase/Hunter/Jcoop (and AP).

Jett was also a mediocre starter on the 250 but also not on the fastest bike, but once he got to the 450 he suddenly became the best starter in the world. I think that will be the only thing that could hold Deegan back. In the 250 class he is obviously on another level than anyone else and can win races even if he starts in 7-8th for example. I doubt he just blows by Tomac/Chase/Hunter though for example if he gets a mediocre start.

It's also so hard to predict how Deegan will do because the 250 class right now besides him is so frikkin inconsistent. He for sure has the grit and skill to be one of the guys though.

It’s always the big question - how well will a good 250 rider go on the 450?

His aggressiveness against the 250 guys won’t work in the 450 class.  Plenty of guys in the top 10 who won’t just roll over and any bar banging will be paid back in equal measure.

Also he won’t have the luxury of knowing he can win from a start anywhere in the top ten due to superior speed and fitness; those advantages he currently enjoys will evaporate.

Lastly he won’t be up against a field of competitors who can barely string two good motos together.  Current 250 class is pretty anemic outside of Deegan; building championship points won’t come as easily against the likes of the Lawrences, Tomac, AP and Cooper.

It’ll be close outdoors

Deegan is going to smoke the shit out of everyone, including Jett. 

 And here’s my special message for the people who downvote this: 🖕🏻

His podium interviews are aggressive. His riding is not.  He's simply fast.

We hear this every season: "I'd like to see him try that in the 450s," "I'd like to see him try that against Barcia and Anderson." It rarely happens, and the guys who were thought to be pushed around in the 450s when they moved up have climbed their way to the top of the class. Hampshire is riding well, and no one has pushed him around. Hunter handled himself against JA and is now on another level. Barcia never outgrew his 250 riding, and everyone just rides around his BS now.  

Deegan will be fine. But it won't happen right away. 

New Yamaha chassis to sort out. KTM very refined at this point. And, well, it’s Eli. I like Eli’s chances. 

Just like those that said James would smoke RC…then reality set in when they step up to the big boy class…

I've been following deegans career like the rest of us . Every year or every class it's been the same thing " XYZ rider is going to smoke deegan,he doesnt have a chance against fill in the blank" . It literally has not happened a single time.

And XYZ were all kids on 250's. Not the big boys on 450's. Unless you're bring up Hunter Lawrence, who did smoke Deegan

its funny how we all looking forward to the Jett & deegs rivalry & im guilty of tht as well but deegs when he comes up gotta get thru chase & Eli before he even can get to Jett , so my answer is no not right off the bat for deegs, its still goona be the Jett , chase & Eli triple threat match for 2026 outdoors 

He wont beat Justin Cooper in 450s first year, let alone Tomac

SX no way, MX perhaps I don't believe it will take him long to run top 5 or even 3 outdoors.

He doesn't like losing he will do all the work he needs to do to be up front, eventually I believe he will be number 2 behind Jett.

Aa for him being a punk on bike in 450s I don't think he will ride the best 450s guys as he does it  the 250 class, he will have more respect for the top guys.

971, the only thing getting smoked is Brian's dick. By you. 

Cole Davies. 

This. Deegz can get in the mix outdoors right away. Sx? Hell no

More than a few "unbeatable" riders had real difficulty switching from the 250's to the 450's. Deegan may be one of them. 

Im just saying ,his whole career people have been trying to find the "gothcha" rider that was going to show deegan their back fender.  Its usually from the crowd that doesnt like deegan for one reason or another .

Believe the Hype: Part 2

Insulting to Tomac to even ask the question. Even on a new bike I got Tomac over Deegs. 

Deegan has the eye of the tiger that all champions must possess, and which is the main reason they are champions.  Skill, fitness, racecraft, equipment, and overall program are all contributing factors.  His fitness is strong, his skills are impressive, his equipment is the best, and his racecraft improves with the experience he gains with every moto.  He seems to be maturing and starting to leave the nonsense behind him, which is good because he's been his own worst enemy up until now.  He will take all this with him to the 450 class, so he obviously has the same advantages the previous "golden boys" before him had.  I believe his drive to win will serve him well in his transition the big bike class.  I've not been a fan of much of his behavior but that seems to be improving and there is no denying his strength and skill on the track.  I think he will fare well in the class (just as Jett has) but will no doubt face an improved level of competition with Jett, Eli, etc.  Barring injuries we should see some fantastic battles next year between all of them.  After that it is quite possible we will see battles reminiscent of Carmichael/Stewart and Villapoto/Dungey between Jett and Deegan.

We shall see and it will be entertaining to watch it unfold.

Big Deegan fan. Huge Tomac fan. Deegan is a bit small to man handle a 450 for an entire moto and this may be his achilles heel in the big bike class at first. He reminds of Martin size wise...just a bit small for a 450 over a 30 minute moto. I think he'll adapt far better than Martin, but ripping a 450 for 30 +2 is no joke in the summer heat.

I know what he was expecting for an outcome for this, but I have to admit, he made me LOL reading it  🍻 🤣