Opinion: Deegan needs A LOT of technique work to run with #18 & #4 one day…

twotwosix
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Edited Date/Time 7/19/2025 1:52pm

Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he rides his 250 now and be able to beat Jett and Chase, he’s in for a rude awakening… He has speed, he needs to spend the next year improving his technique if he wants that speed to translate to 450 Supercross. 

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7/19/2025 2:00pm Edited Date/Time 7/19/2025 2:01pm

He looked really good at the first few races (edit: first few MX races) this year, I thought he was really working on smoothing things out and getting ready for the jump to the 450.

He didn't look as good when he wasn't in the lead though, felt like he went back to his old style and panicked a bit.

Too early to tell yet which direction he'll go, but he's really, really good at motocross, so I don't want to entirely discount him just yet.

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dean122
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7/19/2025 2:07pm

You have to override a 250 to win. Haven't you heard RJ Hampshire talk about this? Just because he rides the piss out of his 250 to be a champion doesn't mean that will be his riding style on a 450. 

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NeedMoto
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7/19/2025 2:10pm
twotwosix wrote:
Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he...

Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he rides his 250 now and be able to beat Jett and Chase, he’s in for a rude awakening… He has speed, he needs to spend the next year improving his technique if he wants that speed to translate to 450 Supercross. 

Agree 100%

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971_Fan
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7/19/2025 2:12pm
twotwosix wrote:
Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he...

Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he rides his 250 now and be able to beat Jett and Chase, he’s in for a rude awakening… He has speed, he needs to spend the next year improving his technique if he wants that speed to translate to 450 Supercross. 

Maybe Star Racing should hire you. 

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The Shop

7/19/2025 2:14pm

You might be right but RJ's success on a 450 is an eye opener and might prove otherwise.

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4
7/19/2025 2:22pm

I dont think he needs to be a technique clone like Jett or Chase. He has his own style that works for him and that he will adapt to the 450. People do sleep on how technically sound he is and try to group him in as just this WFO animal. He stands and uses his legs everywhere. That said, I dont think he can beat Jett or Chase anyway. Not Chase for a couple years, at least

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twotwosix
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7/19/2025 2:31pm Edited Date/Time 7/19/2025 2:33pm
I dont think he needs to be a technique clone like Jett or Chase. He has his own style that works for him and that he...

I dont think he needs to be a technique clone like Jett or Chase. He has his own style that works for him and that he will adapt to the 450. People do sleep on how technically sound he is and try to group him in as just this WFO animal. He stands and uses his legs everywhere. That said, I dont think he can beat Jett or Chase anyway. Not Chase for a couple years, at least

You’re definitely right. He will never ride with that textbook technique that Jett or Chase have, but he needs to tighten things up and gain a level of precision in his game if he wants to win 450 SX titles. RC is great example of not needing to have what we would call ‘perfect’ technique to win in 450 SX, but eventually he gained that consistency and precision you need to dominate titles in the 450 class. I worry that Deegan’s first 450 SX season might look like RCs if he doesn’t clean the technique up. RC spent a lot of time on his head early on. To beat Jett and Chase will require another level from Deegan indoors. Outdoors I worry less, but indoors that 450 will bite even the best if you aren’t precise and repeatable. 

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twotwosix
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7/19/2025 2:40pm

RC sure didn't seem to need flawless technique. 

True, but RC didn’t have to beat Jett Lawrence or Chase Sexton in 450 SX… the game has changed over the years. 

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7/19/2025 2:42pm
twotwosix wrote:

True, but RC didn’t have to beat Jett Lawrence or Chase Sexton in 450 SX… the game has changed over the years. 

Yeah he only had to beat James Stewart and Chad Reed...

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agn5008
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Fantasy
7/19/2025 2:47pm

That worked better than expected. 

twotwosix
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7/19/2025 2:50pm Edited Date/Time 7/19/2025 3:01pm
twotwosix wrote:

True, but RC didn’t have to beat Jett Lawrence or Chase Sexton in 450 SX… the game has changed over the years. 

Yeah he only had to beat James Stewart and Chad Reed...

They are legends. That’s my era, don’t get me wrong, but in SX, you drop Jett and Chase on Chad and James’ bikes back then and they win. Amateurs are better than they were 20 years ago. Privateers are better than they were 20 years ago.  Top Pros are better than they were 20 years ago. The sport grows and elevates. 

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davistld01
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7/19/2025 3:42pm

You might be right but RJ's success on a 450 is an eye opener and might prove otherwise.

Hampshire was born to ride a 450.

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shuggs
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7/19/2025 4:41pm

You might be right but RJ's success on a 450 is an eye opener and might prove otherwise.

I dont think he has the right mindset to learn at this time, I just hope he doesn’t get hurt learning a hard lesson

kijen
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7/19/2025 4:45pm

Crystal ball says he will be fine, take a year before he is competin  for podiums.

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Herr Lich
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7/19/2025 4:55pm

RC sure didn't seem to need flawless technique. 

Yes, but Deegan isn't RC. 

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deanwhite51
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7/19/2025 4:57pm

RC sure didn't seem to need flawless technique. 

Also took him 3 years to win a premier SX title because of how often he crashed trying to ride SX like he rode outdoors. 

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Herr Lich
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7/19/2025 4:58pm
twotwosix wrote:
Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he...

Big Deegan fan here. Kid is amazing. But if he thinks that he is going to manhandle and over ride a 450 in Supercross like he rides his 250 now and be able to beat Jett and Chase, he’s in for a rude awakening… He has speed, he needs to spend the next year improving his technique if he wants that speed to translate to 450 Supercross. 

971_Fan wrote:

Maybe Star Racing should hire you. 

Well, BT said Deegan has a long way to go technique-wise to get anywhere near Jett. And BT literally was hired by your girlfriend Brian to coach Haiden in technique. 

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deanwhite51
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7/19/2025 4:59pm

You might be right but RJ's success on a 450 is an eye opener and might prove otherwise.

davistld01 wrote:

Hampshire was born to ride a 450.

I’d assume most people his age are ready to ride a 450

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2
7/19/2025 5:04pm

My bro profesh would smoke everyone mentioned in this thread in his double boost port CR125

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SonofThor32
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7/19/2025 5:33pm

IMO, the folks dying to see him race the last race on a 450 (points withstanding) are the ones that want to see him fail.  You know he would be going into a race with basically zero seat time on a 450, knowing he won't at all be actually ready for it, just to say "we told you so".  I am a fan of his grit and speed, not a fan of much else, but love watching him ride.  I would much rather see him come into Anaheim 1, fully prepared, and get the real deal vs. a glimpse now that could mess with his confidence going into 2026.  I want him to be as arrogant on the line in January as he is now, fully prepared, and get a REAL measure for his 'phenom' talent.

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7/19/2025 5:37pm
dean122 wrote:
You have to override a 250 to win. Haven't you heard RJ Hampshire talk about this? Just because he rides the piss out of his 250...

You have to override a 250 to win. Haven't you heard RJ Hampshire talk about this? Just because he rides the piss out of his 250 to be a champion doesn't mean that will be his riding style on a 450. 

Jett and Hunter just spat out their XXXX beers.
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7/19/2025 5:44pm Edited Date/Time 7/19/2025 5:46pm
twotwosix wrote:
They are legends. That’s my era, don’t get me wrong, but in SX, you drop Jett and Chase on Chad and James’ bikes back then and...

They are legends. That’s my era, don’t get me wrong, but in SX, you drop Jett and Chase on Chad and James’ bikes back then and they win. Amateurs are better than they were 20 years ago. Privateers are better than they were 20 years ago.  Top Pros are better than they were 20 years ago. The sport grows and elevates. 

Reed and Stews bikes? The ones without start maps, launch control, and fuel injection? These guys can't win if their clicker setup is off by 2, let alone a bike that's 17 years old. 

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5
7/19/2025 5:54pm
I dont think he needs to be a technique clone like Jett or Chase. He has his own style that works for him and that he...

I dont think he needs to be a technique clone like Jett or Chase. He has his own style that works for him and that he will adapt to the 450. People do sleep on how technically sound he is and try to group him in as just this WFO animal. He stands and uses his legs everywhere. That said, I dont think he can beat Jett or Chase anyway. Not Chase for a couple years, at least

twotwosix wrote:
You’re definitely right. He will never ride with that textbook technique that Jett or Chase have, but he needs to tighten things up and gain a...

You’re definitely right. He will never ride with that textbook technique that Jett or Chase have, but he needs to tighten things up and gain a level of precision in his game if he wants to win 450 SX titles. RC is great example of not needing to have what we would call ‘perfect’ technique to win in 450 SX, but eventually he gained that consistency and precision you need to dominate titles in the 450 class. I worry that Deegan’s first 450 SX season might look like RCs if he doesn’t clean the technique up. RC spent a lot of time on his head early on. To beat Jett and Chase will require another level from Deegan indoors. Outdoors I worry less, but indoors that 450 will bite even the best if you aren’t precise and repeatable. 

I actually didn't catch in your original post that you were really talking about how he's going to transition to a 450 in sx. I straight up dont think he'll ever be a 450 sx champion. He'll be solid in sx but outdoors is where he will shine. 

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CPR
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7/19/2025 6:07pm
dean122 wrote:
You have to override a 250 to win. Haven't you heard RJ Hampshire talk about this? Just because he rides the piss out of his 250...

You have to override a 250 to win. Haven't you heard RJ Hampshire talk about this? Just because he rides the piss out of his 250 to be a champion doesn't mean that will be his riding style on a 450. 

Jett and Hunter just spat out their XXXX beers.

Most people would spit out that shit 😂

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mx317
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7/19/2025 6:10pm
IMO, the folks dying to see him race the last race on a 450 (points withstanding) are the ones that want to see him fail.  You...

IMO, the folks dying to see him race the last race on a 450 (points withstanding) are the ones that want to see him fail.  You know he would be going into a race with basically zero seat time on a 450, knowing he won't at all be actually ready for it, just to say "we told you so".  I am a fan of his grit and speed, not a fan of much else, but love watching him ride.  I would much rather see him come into Anaheim 1, fully prepared, and get the real deal vs. a glimpse now that could mess with his confidence going into 2026.  I want him to be as arrogant on the line in January as he is now, fully prepared, and get a REAL measure for his 'phenom' talent.

I thought he was still riding a 250 is SX and moving to a 450 outdoors. 

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NateDawg241
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7/19/2025 6:17pm

RC sure didn't seem to need flawless technique. 

twotwosix wrote:

True, but RC didn’t have to beat Jett Lawrence or Chase Sexton in 450 SX… the game has changed over the years. 

Lol, yea he only had to beat the greatest Supercross rider ever along with James Stewart, Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, etc.

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clem
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7/19/2025 6:43pm

RC sure didn't seem to need flawless technique. 

twotwosix wrote:

True, but RC didn’t have to beat Jett Lawrence or Chase Sexton in 450 SX… the game has changed over the years. 

Lol, yea he only had to beat the greatest Supercross rider ever along with James Stewart, Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, etc.

Yeah, I guess twotwosix doesn't realize that RC had to beat the only guy with 72SX wins. 🤣 He had to beat the guy who has more wins than Chase and Jett combined.

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motomike137
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7/19/2025 6:48pm

Time will tell. Look at what a breath of fresh air RJ is on the 450. Haiden might just do something similar and improve because he has a bunch more power to work with and he doesn't have to wring the thing out. I don't expect him to just show up and be a threat for wins, but I'll bet he gets podiums next summer. It is going to be fun to watch.

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MXRalph
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7/19/2025 6:50pm

I think Deegan will translate into a very Tomac-esque style on the 450. Whether he is highly successful remains to be seen, but he will be fast.

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