Tonight showed why Deegs is gonna struggle in 450s...

soggy
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5/11/2026 6:50am

honestly the weakest point in his game is his ability to take people out. 

By my memory he’s only failed at it twice and pulled it off many multiples of that. 

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Johnny Ringo
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5/11/2026 6:54am

honestly the weakest point in his game is his ability to take people out. 

soggy wrote:

By my memory he’s only failed at it twice and pulled it off many multiples of that. 

Exactly 

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Chris_Buehler
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5/11/2026 6:58am
Pre-SMX 450 outdoors with everyone on the gate, I would have been worried for Deegan. I have to keep reminding myself this is a new era...

Pre-SMX 450 outdoors with everyone on the gate, I would have been worried for Deegan. I have to keep reminding myself this is a new era with a thinner 450 field for outdoors.

I think he will be top Yamaha. I think he will be a little  better than Marchbags. I don't think he will be as fast as Prado, Jett, Hunter, or Eli.. I think he will slot right in with Ferrandis and Plessinger. Maybe 5-8.  Maybe add Hombre to that 5-8 battle if he's good for outdoors. 

Brad460 wrote:

Predicting 5-8 makes me wonder if you even follow mx…

"A little better than Marchbags." LoL what? Deegz is a total beast outdoors. 

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FreshTopEnd
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5/11/2026 7:55am

Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others? - it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.  He's going to do fine and probably a podium threat every week.  

It'll be interesting to see if he tries to dick around with guys like he did with the 250 kids.  I am inclined to think he'll just get on with business.  

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The Shop

Trickamoto
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5/11/2026 8:05am

you guys are all fools that don't know shit. i've forgotten more about this sport than you'll ever know. he's gonna win pala. now i'll even sound like one of you goons... "stamp it" "jus sayin" "low key he wins" "i'm here for it" "

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uncledaddy69
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5/11/2026 8:13am

He absolutely freaks out when another rider makes him look silly, see Davies and Jo. When he tries his bullshit and it doesn’t work, he completely loses his cool and either takes himself out or rides over his head and crashes. 

To be honest, if someone in the 450 class slowed up, let Haiden pass, then passed him back and gapped him (à la Stewart and Reed) I don’t think Haiden could handle it and would have an absolute nuclear level meltdown.

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6
5/11/2026 8:25am

he already showed us when he ran w/ the 450s in WSX. He gooned around with all the "head on a swivel" stuff and then dirt-planted himself. I predict much of the same. I think he'll grow out of it, but we're gonna have some LOL moments at his expense this summer.

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Press516
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5/11/2026 9:01am Edited Date/Time 5/11/2026 9:48am

The kid is fast and outdoors is his thing.  But the competition is a completely different level than what he was up against in 250's.  We all know what Jett can do.  And we all saw what Hunter did at the last outdoor race we all watched at MXoN, including beating his brother...  There is a "new" Prado on the line, what that will be...  Still to be seen, but I expect him to be re-energized and competitive.  If Chase is comfortable, he will be a threat as well.  And then there is Tomac...  He will have his moments.  At least 6 guys, including Deegan that can win a moto at any moment.

Field is still deep enough that nothing is going to be easy.  Not even for Jett...

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Jkawi
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5/11/2026 9:45am

There's going to be a lot of people that can't separate Deegan's personality from his racing abilities that are going to look pretty dumb in the coming years.

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Jkawi
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5/11/2026 9:48am
truck wrote:
It's cope... Deegan can't handle being beat straight up. it's much easier for his ego to handle getting beat if he plays games and ends up...

It's cope... Deegan can't handle being beat straight up. it's much easier for his ego to handle getting beat if he plays games and ends up on the ground. He's able to play it off just like he did last night 'hahaha that's just hard racing hahahaha and sometimes shit happens......' so he never has to say 'I just got beat tonight'  

Yea. Ricky Carmichael had a similar issue.

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5/11/2026 10:34am
Rotaholic wrote:
I think he will struggle to beat his team mate this season, J Coop is building. Hunter, Chase, Eli, Prado and Jett will be a level...

I think he will struggle to beat his team mate this season, J Coop is building. Hunter, Chase, Eli, Prado and Jett will be a level above

He consistently beat JCoop on 250's from what I remember.  Maybe JCoop is better now, I don't know, but I am sure that Deegan is.

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3
5/11/2026 11:18am
truck wrote:
It's cope... Deegan can't handle being beat straight up. it's much easier for his ego to handle getting beat if he plays games and ends up...

It's cope... Deegan can't handle being beat straight up. it's much easier for his ego to handle getting beat if he plays games and ends up on the ground. He's able to play it off just like he did last night 'hahaha that's just hard racing hahahaha and sometimes shit happens......' so he never has to say 'I just got beat tonight'  

He has a fragile mind and ego. That's why he is so reckless on the track when he's getting beat. 

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Forty
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5/11/2026 12:30pm

He's not yet mature enough, in spite of his blazing speed.  When he becomes a man, it'll be a real thing.

I was surprised at how quickly he unraveled on Saturday however -   

Josh Grant had this too, Josh would have so many more wins if he raced ahead.  I remember watching him toss a race just to try to settle an old score from his mini days. 

 

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Kenny Banyan
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5/11/2026 1:00pm
Forty wrote:
He's not yet mature enough, in spite of his blazing speed.  When he becomes a man, it'll be a real thing.I was surprised at how quickly...

He's not yet mature enough, in spite of his blazing speed.  When he becomes a man, it'll be a real thing.

I was surprised at how quickly he unraveled on Saturday however -   

Josh Grant had this too, Josh would have so many more wins if he raced ahead.  I remember watching him toss a race just to try to settle an old score from his mini days. 

 

I agree that he has some growing up to do. I think had he not played games , he would have got’n back by Davies and gapped him. He’s shown in the past that he has another gear. At very least he needs to get it in his head that you don’t need to win every race. 

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CPR
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5/11/2026 1:31pm
Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others...

Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others? - it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.  He's going to do fine and probably a podium threat every week.  

It'll be interesting to see if he tries to dick around with guys like he did with the 250 kids.  I am inclined to think he'll just get on with business.  

it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.”

Tomac, Sexton, Prado, Jett, Hunter…..that’s five last time I counted, then you have guys like JCoop, AP, and Ferrandis.

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5/11/2026 3:49pm
Trickamoto wrote:
you guys are all fools that don't know shit. i've forgotten more about this sport than you'll ever know. he's gonna win pala. now i'll even...

you guys are all fools that don't know shit. i've forgotten more about this sport than you'll ever know. he's gonna win pala. now i'll even sound like one of you goons... "stamp it" "jus sayin" "low key he wins" "i'm here for it" "

HaHaHaHaHa!

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super_fan_38
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5/11/2026 4:17pm
He absolutely freaks out when another rider makes him look silly, see Davies and Jo. When he tries his bullshit and it doesn’t work, he completely...

He absolutely freaks out when another rider makes him look silly, see Davies and Jo. When he tries his bullshit and it doesn’t work, he completely loses his cool and either takes himself out or rides over his head and crashes. 

To be honest, if someone in the 450 class slowed up, let Haiden pass, then passed him back and gapped him (à la Stewart and Reed) I don’t think Haiden could handle it and would have an absolute nuclear level meltdown.

He's done that twice so step outside of your fanatasy world and into Deegan's world.  Deegan is the 5th dimension on that bike, and the 450 class is going to find that out real quick. So if you think someone in the 450 class is going to pull over and let a rider with the speed of Deegan by, you must be high on mushrooms because that aint gonna happen.  
 

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plowboy
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5/11/2026 5:38pm

I ain't got no crystal ball so I'll wait till around Thunder Valley to decide how he fits in.  Personally, I think he's a turd in a punch bowl but the fucker can ride.

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Madkiwi
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5/11/2026 7:00pm
vdrsnk04 wrote:
I’m not a Deegan fan. But I’ll give him credit any time a weakness has shown up in his riding and racing he has adapted and...

I’m not a Deegan fan. But I’ll give him credit any time a weakness has shown up in his riding and racing he has adapted and fixed it and continually became better and faster. I don’t see why this wouldn’t be the narrative moving forward.

This. I'm far from a Deegz cheerleader. But if you think he wont be back to the drawing board with his team working on his game...

This. I'm far from a Deegz cheerleader. But if you think he wont be back to the drawing board with his team working on his game on Monday, you haven't been paying attention. He puts the work and and I fully expect him to address his weaknesses. Also, showed a lot of maturity in the post race interview. Of course, everyone said he was being insincere and was actually fuming. Dude cant win

How do you work on the red mist and the coping mechanism that he has trained himself all his life to use to his advantage?

It's not a practice track thing....only a head doctor can work on that kind of stuff. Be it a great/switched-on team member or an actual professional.... 

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ace402
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5/12/2026 8:59am

I don't get how people think Deegan isn't top 5 every race as long as he doesn't crash. Jet and Hunter will be his biggest problems and probably the most consistent top 2. All the other guys will battle for 3-5 most weekends with the occasional place swap.

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plowboy
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5/12/2026 9:26am
ace402 wrote:
I don't get how people think Deegan isn't top 5 every race as long as he doesn't crash. Jet and Hunter will be his biggest problems...

I don't get how people think Deegan isn't top 5 every race as long as he doesn't crash. Jet and Hunter will be his biggest problems and probably the most consistent top 2. All the other guys will battle for 3-5 most weekends with the occasional place swap.

I ain't saying you're wrong.  Sounds right on paper but they don't race on paper.🙃

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MOTO13
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5/12/2026 9:36am
Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others...

Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others? - it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.  He's going to do fine and probably a podium threat every week.  

It'll be interesting to see if he tries to dick around with guys like he did with the 250 kids.  I am inclined to think he'll just get on with business.  

CPR wrote:
“it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.”Tomac, Sexton, Prado, Jett, Hunter…..that’s five last time I counted, then you have guys like JCoop...

it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.”

Tomac, Sexton, Prado, Jett, Hunter…..that’s five last time I counted, then you have guys like JCoop, AP, and Ferrandis.

Isn't Webb racing outdoors? He was testing for it. 

kxking
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5/12/2026 9:52am
He absolutely freaks out when another rider makes him look silly, see Davies and Jo. When he tries his bullshit and it doesn’t work, he completely...

He absolutely freaks out when another rider makes him look silly, see Davies and Jo. When he tries his bullshit and it doesn’t work, he completely loses his cool and either takes himself out or rides over his head and crashes. 

To be honest, if someone in the 450 class slowed up, let Haiden pass, then passed him back and gapped him (à la Stewart and Reed) I don’t think Haiden could handle it and would have an absolute nuclear level meltdown.

He's done that twice so step outside of your fanatasy world and into Deegan's world.  Deegan is the 5th dimension on that bike, and the 450...

He's done that twice so step outside of your fanatasy world and into Deegan's world.  Deegan is the 5th dimension on that bike, and the 450 class is going to find that out real quick. So if you think someone in the 450 class is going to pull over and let a rider with the speed of Deegan by, you must be high on mushrooms because that aint gonna happen.  
 

Don't forget JS17 in WSX....

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FreshTopEnd
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5/12/2026 10:00am
Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others...

Given guys who are not going to race outdoors seriously - Roczen, Webb, probably Anderson (including just for his sheer knock you down potential), any others? - it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.  He's going to do fine and probably a podium threat every week.  

It'll be interesting to see if he tries to dick around with guys like he did with the 250 kids.  I am inclined to think he'll just get on with business.  

CPR wrote:
“it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.”Tomac, Sexton, Prado, Jett, Hunter…..that’s five last time I counted, then you have guys like JCoop...

it's not like the class is five deep in potential winners.”

Tomac, Sexton, Prado, Jett, Hunter…..that’s five last time I counted, then you have guys like JCoop, AP, and Ferrandis.

Fair enough on Justin, I don't see AP and Ferrandis as week in and week out top of the box contenders.  I didn't write that Deegan is going to run off multiple overall wins, just that he's a credible week in and week out podium contender.  I'd be surprised if we saw five different overall winners in the 450 class over the summer.  Hope I'm wrong on that.  Time will tell.

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FreshTopEnd
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5/12/2026 10:10am
MOTO13 wrote:

Isn't Webb racing outdoors? He was testing for it. 

It sure hasn't seemed like he's committed to running all outdoor rounds.  It would be great if he did and was all in, the racing is always better when someone of that talent is in the mix.  But it feels like he's in the do as many as it takes to get a decent SMX seeding stage of life.

He did 6 rounds in 2025 with a best result of 6th OA

1 round in 2024 for 15th OA

4 rounds in 2023 with a best result of 3rd OA

No rounds in 2022

2021 was his last full season with a best result of 3rd OA

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SouthSwellBraap
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5/12/2026 11:13am

All I know is there are like seven guys who could win a moto and maybe even an overall especially if Jett isn’t 100%; so, I’m stoked to see how it plays out. But staying on topic, Deegan could finish 10th or make it on the podium, and honestly both are completely reasonable outcomes/predictions at this point. 

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MOTO13
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5/12/2026 11:36am

Who are the big 4 in outdoors? Jett, Tomac, Hunter and Sexton. And Jett and Sexton are big question marks this year. This puts Deegan squarely in 5th place and realistically probably top 3. We all know he was a fkng beast OD's on a 250. Even if he gets a poor start...the motos are 30 mins+ which gives him time.  And, he seems to get faster as others tire. I don't see him outside the top 5 or 6...even on a bad day. The kid is good outdoors. The top guys know it too. 

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SouthSwellBraap
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5/12/2026 11:45am

I will give some grace to the former MXGP #1 with Prado, and I think J Coop could also be in and around top 5 not sure what AP's deal is, but he has shown he can run upfront outdoors too.

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kxking
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5/12/2026 12:03pm

Although I don't know his injury status as of now, lets not forget RJ, he was looking pretty damn good last year and getting better and better as the season went on. I believe he got a best of 3rd last year. If he can stay off the ground he will be in the mix as well probably ahead of AP7 and DF14 battling for top 3-5's.

ShipLap
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5/12/2026 12:28pm
Motodude wrote:
I hope they have a full time sports psychologist on call for him. It will be a massive humble pie to eat. Fast? Sure. The hype...

I hope they have a full time sports psychologist on call for him. It will be a massive humble pie to eat. Fast? Sure. The hype is Alessi level on steroids. 

He compares rather favorably to Stewart at this point.  Alessi?  Not so much.

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