Haiden Deegan has never shied away from speaking his mind, and following his latest appearance in the SuperMotocross (SMX) playoffs, the 19-year-old rising star once again gave fans an inside look into his mindset on and off the track. Addressing the intensity of his race strategy and the drama that followed, Deegan clarified that his approach wasn’t about unnecessary aggression but about entertainment and strategy.
“I feel like t-boning him up front would have been unnecessary,” Deegan explained. “My goal was to play cat and mouse and bring other riders up from behind.” His tactical style sparked both excitement and controversy, but one thing was undeniable—he had the stadium buzzing. “I had the crowd going crazy,” he added with a grin, highlighting how much fan energy fuels his performances.
When asked about his exchanges with Jo Shimoda, Deegan insisted there was no bad blood. “Jo thought it was chill too,” he said. “I could have done worse but that wasn’t my goal.” The clash, while physical at moments, never crossed the line in his eyes. Instead, he pointed toward the media as amplifying the drama: “The media hyped up the race as a brawl until the brawl actually happens.”
Beyond the headlines, Deegan made it clear his larger mission is about elevating the sport. Reflecting on motocross history, he mentioned James “Bubba” Stewart as the last superstar who truly expanded the fan base. “I feel like the last time the sport really grew was Stewart,” Deegan stated. “My goal is to bring that back.”
Love him or hate him, Deegan’s bold personality, aggressive racing style, and flair for showmanship are already making waves. If his vision comes true, SMX could be entering a new era of growth—driven by the “DangerBoy” himself.
