The Truth of the Claim Against Haiden Deegan's Bike | Part 1 - Brennan Schofield, Brian Deegan, Mike Burkeen, & Tim Cotter 11

We've been digging and digging to get to the bottom of the claim against Haiden Deegan's Star Yamaha YZ250F at the 2022 Loretta Lynn National. In part 1 of our investigation, we talk to Brennan Schofield (the one who claimed the bike), Tim Cotter (MX Sports), Mike Burkeen (AMA Official), and Brian Deegan. Part 2 will feature Matt Walker and Donnie Luce (Yamaha).
Credit: Michael Lindsay
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View replies to: The Truth of the Claim Against Haiden Deegan's Bike | Part 1 - Brennan Schofield, Brian Deegan, Mike Burkeen, & Tim Cotter

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Motohead279
1 year ago
So Brennan is polite, does everything right yet is threatened, bombarded with “why are you doing this, who set you up to this, who’s money is this etc”.

None of that matters and shouldn’t have even happened. You claim a bike per the rules then those questions should never be asked.

I’d like to know who threatened his sponsor. Has to be some official from Yamaha because the dealer was worried about losing bikes. I’d also love to know who the sponsor was for dropping him even after he decided not to do it because the only reason he didn’t go through with it was to protect his sponsor.

No amount of interviews will this look good for all of the other parties involved. Claiming a bike is a black and white case.
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Alfred Karius
1 year ago
There is no point in having rules if they are not followed, if people can blazenly break those rules without consequence, if people are threatened for applying those rules. That MSRP claim rule is now mute, it's now completely pointless.
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govolsdeep1983
1 year ago
I agree!! It doesn't matter how he got the money or who he got the money from I don't understand why he had to meet up with so many people just trying to climb a bike that being said I haven't watched the videos yet I'll have to watch them tonight after work 😂
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ML512
1 year ago
I know this is quite the bag to unload so here are some unique points to the story.

Brennan does admit that there was an offer of sort from Yamaha of engines to replace so damaged ones he had along with an opportunity to test the bike at Goat Farm.

Burkeen and Cotter both repeat multiple times that Brennan followed the rule to a T and did everything required of him to leave with that bike, along with being very understanding during the whole process.

Burkeen states that the AMA rules relating to a claim will only penalize another party if they counter claim a bike to interfere or if a rider is directly threatened by the claimed party. Negotiating a deal to receive some level of support in return for dropping a claim is NOT against the rules.

Brennan also admits that he actually doesn't know if his bike sponsor / dealer was threatened by Yamaha, it was assumed.

Cotter and Burkeen speak very highly of dealing with Brennan and his handling of the situation.

Cotter and Burkeen both speak about the engine builder trying to be involved a decent bit.

Cotter and Burkeen both state that they were told his parents "weren't around" and in retrospective they both wish they would've asked further on this.

Both admit to not realizing that Brennan was under 18 in the moment.

Burkeen states he didn't deny the kid the ability to make the claim without his parents around as he didn't want to run down the clock and risk the kid not being able to make the claim against the bike. He absolutely didn't want to interfere with the process and have it look like the AMA / MX Sports would deny a legitimate bike claim.

Cotter, Burkeen, and Deegan all match up with a much shorter time line for the conversation with Brennan in the office. Their versions of Deegan's questions all match Brennan's.

Deegan didn't know it was only Brennan present when he showed up, he expected a kid and his dad.

Deegan has proof of very negative comments that Brennan has posted on Social Media about Haiden and was roughly aware of who he was due to these comments.
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JBlain619
1 year ago
What does the negative comments have to do with anything? That doesn't matter one bit in this. Why the need to comment on this ML?
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ML512
1 year ago
I didn’t speak anything negative, I point out key points of the video because people seem to be struggling to watch the whole feature. It’s not my opinion on what happened, it’s items that are stated in the video.
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JBlain619
1 year ago
I think you misunderstood my comment. I should’ve been more clear. I wasn’t saying you said anything negative. Your last sentence…” Deegan has proof of very negative comments that Brennan has posted on Social Media about Haiden and was roughly aware of who he was due to these comments” is what I’m referring to.
What does that have anything to do with anything? Brennan’s comments negative or not is of no consequence in this entire situation.
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mottocross918
1 year ago
Let the story speak for itself! We don’t need your breakdown let us process it ourselves. The fact your commenting on your own video isn’t a good look. Wouldn’t be surprised if these guys are throwing money around to try and get people to paint a certain picture of the events.
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VRR7
1 year ago
Brian Deegan should claim Brenan's bike next moto as a joke - See how that feels ! Then put on You Tube what the engine builder did to his motor :-) See how Brenan feels about developing another bike to race ... POS
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VRR7
1 year ago
Brennan engine builder was the aggressive one that set the tone. He wanted that bike bad ! Not like he says he was not interested. Rubbing everyone up the wrong way. Brennan jealous AF - Jealousy make you nasty. Green with envy. Not good enough to get a star racing deal so he has to try and torpedo Haiden because Haiden is way better than he is. Glad he got put in his place want to attack the Yamaha racing marketing effort while being sponsored with a Yamaha. No clue whatsoever !!!! In fact most loser MX races support him when the industry that makes everything go round and round needs to be taken down. Destroy the industry and see how that filters down to ALL riders.
This rule seems like a BS badly thought out rule. Needs to be updated for the modern day. Like in Pro Racing they have a production rule which works and is much more sophisticated. Since the claim bike rule , there are no real works bike in AMA , as compared to MXGP where they have prototype and real works bike. The rule was written when AMA used to have prototypes. They have a suspension cap on Pro bikes I think and a production rule. Things have changed a lot that rule does not serve the sport ! Clearly !!! Need to update the ruling such that it still gets the desired effect and at the same time protects the industry and individual riders. What the point you claim a bike that has hours of personalized suspension work done which will never work for the claimant only destroy the hard working racers efforts ? Engine ? Should be off the shelf rule - Only products available to everyone ! So definitely needs work this rule as legally as it stands it is pretty nethanderthal. Which this episode high lights !!!! Seems like in this instance it servers as a club to beat your competition with if you not good enough to beat them on the race track.
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2wheelKam
1 year ago
It does seem like the engine builder was aggressive and was pushing the issue. Maybe he wanted to see the engine. Maybe he was just trying a little too hard trying to protect Brennan. I disagree that it would’ve hurt Deegan by claiming it. Maybe sentimentally because he was planning on keeping his last amateur bike, but otherwise the AMA was making sure he could finish Loretta’s on the bike and wouldn’t have to scramble to find another one for his last moto. If the bike gets claimed Star would just take the notes from his last build and put a new one together for the next race. We’re talking about a big budget team that probably almost rebuilds the bike for every new venue they race at. Claiming rule in the pro class and works bikes existed side by side for a while. Pro suspension limits are only for the 250 class. 450 class can run full on works suspension. I feel like this claiming rule is okay if that’s the only way they have in the rule book to keep amateur equipment the same but I agree with you. They need to just redo the rule and come up with a better way that the teams won’t resist following or pressure someone into not doing.