Haiden Deegan (38) clinches the Triple Crown in Round 5 of the 250SX Class at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
ARLINGTON, Texas – The “Danger Zone” has returned, and Haiden Deegan is hungrier than ever. The reigning Arlington winner came back to AT&T Stadium determined to reclaim his crown. Despite struggling with his starts throughout the night, he delivered when it mattered most, taking the overall victory in the Triple Crown in Round 5 of the Western Divisional 250SX Class Championship.
Yamaha riders dominated the field with a podium sweep, as Deegan, Coty Schock, and Michael Mosiman secured the top three spots. This victory not only cemented Deegan’s status as the championship leader but also secured Yamaha’s position as the top manufacturer in points thus far.
As the tension in the stadium reached its peak, Deegan’s teammate, Cole Davies, won Race 3, showcasing the strength of their team. Deegan’s ability to overcome adversity and bring relentless intensity proved key in his success.
The sand pit emerged as one of the most challenging sections of the track, testing riders’ skills and resilience. In the first race, Deegan experienced an early slide but quickly recovered to clinch the victory.
Race two presented additional hurdles. A poor start placed Deegan at the back of the pack, and teammate Cole Davies faced a setback due to a start-line collision, hindering his chances of recovery. Nevertheless, Deegan’s tenacity shone through as he maneuvered through the field to secure another crucial win for Yamaha.
“I just needed to get back to the ‘danger zone,’” Deegan said. “That’s kind of what I’m known for—grit and intensity. Just that dog in me.”
Teammates Cole Davies (100) and Haiden Deegan (38) battling for the lead (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
The intensity continued to build throughout the night. Fans were on the edges of their seats as the two teammates, Deegan and Davies, battled for the final crown. Despite Deegan logging the fastest lap time, his Monster Energy Yamaha teammate claimed the Race 3 victory, further proving the team’s depth.
Though Deegan struggled with his starts throughout the night, he still delivered when it counted most, finishing with an impressive 1-1-2 scoreline to take the overall win.
“My game plan was to ‘send it.’ No matter where I started, whoever was in my way, I’m moving past you and trying to get to the front” stated Deegan. “That was my mindset the whole day.”
Coty Schock gets his first career podium in Arlington, Texas (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
Schock, 27, celebrated his first career podium, delivering an emotional post-race interview.
“When I got dumped from the previous team, I had to go searching, and honestly, this (new team) is where I wanted to go. It’s changed my life,” he reflected. “I know they see something in me before I even see it in myself.”
“For me, it (the podium) hasn’t sunk in yet. I think it’s because we are always wanting more. It’s a dream come true. My next personal best is a win, so that’s pretty cool to say.”
Schock battled Mosiman for second place late in the race but admitted he had no idea it was for the runner-up spot.
“I just knew I wanted to beat him, with all respect,” said the Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha rider.
Michael Mosiman (93) leads the pack after obtaining the Holeshot in Race 2 (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
For Mosiman, the night was a testament to perseverance after battling injuries in recent years.
“It means a lot. I’ve been through some really gnarly injuries. You wonder, ‘Can you come back from this?’ Speed never goes away, it’s just a matter of harnessing it. Mosiman states, it takes “a lot of hard work to get to where I am. It’s exciting to see it start paying off,” Mosiman shared.
The Triple Crown format brought its share of chaos, but Mosiman stayed focused on his plan.
“My plan was to get good starts,” he continued. “I think that’s been a strong suit of mine. For the Triple Crown, there is a lot of chaos that breaks through. Getting up on the starts and having consistent rides. Don’t take any unnecessary risks that are going to put me in harm’s way. A bunch of guys went down tonight, and I’m still standing and on the podium.”
Deegan acknowledged his starts need work as he heads into the rest of the season.
“I gotta really study this and get to work with the team and figure out my starts because clearly the East Coast boys got their starts figured out,” Deegan admitted.
With another victory in Arlington, Deegan extended his points lead heading into the next round, solidifying Yamaha’s dominant presence in the championship battle.
As the championship intensifies, riders now set their sights on Indianapolis for the first East/West Showdown at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here will be the long-awaited heads-to-head battle between Deegan, Schock, Davies, Mosiman and Julian Beaumer against the East competitors of Max Anstie, Levi Kitchen, Tom Vialle, Chance Hymas and Nate Thrasher. Round 6 of the Western Divisional 250SX Class Championship takes place on Mar. 8
