How will Deegan stack up against Jett Lawrence in 450MX?

Motoonline Competition Post: Kane Taylor

Champions expected to collide in Pro Motocross come 2026.

Not since the winter of 2005, when phenom James Stewart met Ricky Carmichael in the premier category at the Supercross opener in Anaheim, have we had a more anticipated match-up than Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan, with the two generational talents expected to meet in 450MX next year. The burning question is this: How will Deegan stack up against Lawrence in 2026?

This topic is gaining traction as this year’s Pro Motocross season develops. Legitimate questions are being posed to Deegan about his movements for 2026, and it’s expected that a move to 450MX is on the cards outdoors for next year, with the 19-year-old offering an insight into the situation following High Point.

“Yeah, probably in the off-season when I have time to do some testing on a 450 and figure out what the plan is [for next year],” Deegan mentioned when asked regarding his future. “But yeah, as of now, 250 Supercross and outdoors are still up in the air. Winning these 250 titles is nice. So, you know, if I feel good on the 450 pre-season, then we’ll run it.”

One would think that another dominant 250MX campaign – which he is having this year, collecting six of eight moto wins, and a 42-point margin over second place after four rounds – is more than enough to seal his 450MX fate, and meet an all-new cast of characters, which includes the prodigal 21-year-old, Lawrence.

Remaining with Deegan a touch longer, it’s evident that he has broken the 250 category. The outspoken racer has overcome rivalries with Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Chance Hymas (Honda HRC Progressive) and even Jordon Smith (Triumph Racing) in the early days, and with all due respect, has stamped his authority on the feeder class.

Image: Octopi Media.

It’s reminiscent of Stewart during the early 2000s, who was a notch above the Tedescos, Browns, and Heplers of the world, and was destined for a clash with Carmichael and Chad Reed at the head of the premier class. One could ask, ‘What about Ryan Villopoto?’ or ‘What about Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen?’ To which I would reply, although these riders are all-time greats, there wasn’t the same aura surrounding them as was the case with Stewart versus Carmichael, and now I would argue, Deegan versus Lawrence.

It’s subjective, and some people will think I’m incorrect in saying that, but I believe it to be true. There is a level of hype surrounding both riders, as they’re so talented, yet so different in pretty much every way imaginable.

Here’s a lens to look at it through. Much has been made of Lawrence’s fluidity on a motorcycle, and it’s redefining what it means to race both motocross and supercross disciplines. His ability to manage a race is second to none, and his patience is up there with the best of the best, so there’s that. Deegan, on the other hand, is almost the second coming of the Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) and Villopoto school of riding – ultra aggressive, and makes it sound like it’s armageddon when he’s on the race track. Stylistically, they are both so different, so which one works?

Evidently, both. Lawrence has used his method to effectively dominate the 450 class when he’s been healthy since 2023. Deegan has used his method to take hold of the 250 class, which he has done for the most part since his full-time professional debut in 2023, also. That’s all good and well – what it tells us is that both approaches work – although we’re yet to see which one is ‘better’, in a sense.

To wrap up the stylistic match-up, I will say this. Tomac’s famous ‘Beast Mode’ has, I would say, proven largely ineffective against Lawrence’s delicacy and dissection of a race track. The second motos at both Fox Raceway and Thunder Valley demonstrate such, where the number 18 walked away from Tomac in each race after taking off together at the start. The number three sported his patented aggressive approach, although slamming off berms, losing momentum due to impact, and so on, led to a time loss, despite how impressive it looked visually.

Image: Octopi Media.

Deegan is not Tomac – he is likely an updated version of that level of aggression, and will need to if he’s to be a genuine challenger of Lawrence. This rings even more true indoors, where timing and technique are at a premium over brute force.

To date, what has each rider said about the other? Not much, although what has been said is of interest, as it gives insight into the relationship and how it could unfold into the future. Leading into 2025, the Monster Energy Supercross team sat a selection of riders down to ask color questions, with one being centred around main rivals. Lawrence and Deegan were mentioned together, to which Jett responded:

“That’s stupid [laughs], why would they [the fans] think that, he’s in a different class? [He] ain’t even in the same league bro, come on.”

Deegan saw this, and as expected, he didn’t take it too kindly, retaliating with the following at the Anaheim 1 pre-race press conference:

“I heard guys like Jett already say that I am not even in his league, right? Which I think is funny because on our best day on a 250, I don’t think he’d be able to stand a chance outdoors. Honestly, I’m going to keep working hard, get to the 450 class, and [then] we’ll see.”

Image: Octopi Media.

This is good – this is really good. It sets up for what is going to be an ultra-entertaining stretch of racing. The only hope [which is perhaps misguided] on my end is that all camps and their fan bases keep it respectful. These are two generational talents who are chasing one dream, so it’s inevitably going to get spicy at times, but that doesn’t mean anything ought to cross the line in any way.
The sport of motorcycling ultimately unites us, regardless of who you follow – however passionately – and that’s a good thing to keep in mind.

So, how will Deegan stack up against Lawrence in 450MX? Who knows at this point. All we can do is hypothesize the scenarios, which is a lot of fun! Two opposing styles. Two opposing approaches.

It’s a super-interesting time for the sport, and one that doesn’t come along very often at all. Two heavyweights are set to collide, with questions likely to draw some answers come the summer of 2026.

Rain, Red Flags but Jett Still Wins!

This Week in MXA really encompasses several weeks of non-stop action with Josh Mosiman and Josh Fout diving into the exciting racing from the 2025 High Point National and the intense thunder and lightning storm that caused the red flag in 450 moto two. Plus, they talk about the high temperatures at the Hangtown National, where the AMA shortened the second moto to 25-minutes instead of 30-minutes and what the difference in math is between a Pro National and the typical amateur motocross race. Of course, the stars of the past, who raced 45-minute motos, while pitting out of a box van minus the advantages of a factory semi-truck’s air conditioned lounge, aren’t all that sympathetic.

'It was like I had two different days' – Tomac on High Point

A win in moto two made the High Point National feel like ‘two different days’ for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac, with the four-time Pro Motocross 450MX champion claiming the final moto victory of the weekend and third overall.

After finishing third on the combined qualifying timesheets, Tomac began moto one in ninth, progressively making his way up to P5 by the halfway mark.

Having posted consecutive scorching lap-times to arrive on the back wheel of teammate Justin Cooper, it was in fifth position that he would remain, unable to execute a pass on the number 32.

In launching to a better start in the second race, the 32-year-old made two decisive moves in the opening corners to enter the lead, and would see clean air for the remainder of the race, braving treacherous conditions to capture his second moto victory of the season, and P3 on the podium.

“It was like I just had two different days,” reflected Tomac. “It’s crazy when you get out front how quiet the race is. I’ve just been in the chaos and in war these past few motos, so it was honestly a strange feeling leading some laps early in the race. I mean, of course, I got the one at Hangtown, but this was a different feeling getting in the lead early – it was just a breath of fresh air.”

Although his 5-1 scorecard was enough for third on the podium, Tomac would ultimately concede another four points to series leader Jett Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive), with his deficit now sitting at 28 after four rounds.

“I feel really good, I just have not been consistent with both my motos,” he added. “So it’s been tough that way. It’s like I’m happy with the day, but also frustrated with the day. I’ve had this weird push and pull, but overall, yeah, it’s been nice to be back racing.”

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Hunter Talks

motoonlie  Post: Kane Taylor

450MX racer details High Point podium and return to racing.

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence has made a strong return to racing during the opening four rounds of Pro Motocross in 2025, with a second-place finish at High Point – just shy of his first 450MX overall – a demonstration of the progress made towards front-running contention. Check In with Lawrence as he details his season so far.

Image: Octopi Media.

Congratulations on a solid second overall today. You were in the mix with Jett [Lawrence], Eli [Tomac], and some other hard chargers today throughout the race. What was the biggest difference between moto one and moto two from a racing perspective for you?

Not that much of a difference between motos, honestly. Kind of, yeah, not really a difference, honestly. There isn’t anything crazy. I mean, I know my capabilities on a bike, and I just go back after the first moto and debrief. I know I could improve on my start. My start wasn’t…I didn’t execute it great in the first moto, so that’s the first key to the race is to get off the gate, and just a few things where I feel like I could have, you know, maybe been a little better earlier in the moto and stuff. But that all goes out the window when you’re on the start line and there are big old raindrops coming down, and it changes the whole dynamic. The first lap more or less wins the race at that point, given hindsight, how it turned out. So yeah, it was, it’s a completely different kind of approach, but nothing drastically changes between the motos.

Were there any last-minute changes that you had to make [with the weather coming in] or that your mechanics had to make before we dropped the gate?

Yeah, I was asking what the big black clouds were, [and] when are they going to hit us? Are we scheduled for that? They were massive, so it was not just a sprinkle, and we weren’t sure. It was like, ‘Yeah, it should be in 30 to 40 minutes.’ So it was kind of like, ‘Okay, maybe try and get up front early and maybe have the last 10, 15 minutes of wet conditions.’ But I think it was the second lap that it already started coming down pretty good. So it was definitely interesting.

You and Eli gapped the field in the second moto, and you kind of hung out in his shadow for a little bit. Obviously, they stopped the race early. Did you have a plan in mind of trying to push late to try to get to him and maybe battle for the win, that just didn’t come to fruition?

Yeah, I felt like I was doing a pretty good job of keeping him honest and had him right there. And then, I mean, [I’m] going to sound like, boy, that cried wolf. But I think everyone had the same issue out there. It’s not a matter of you forgetting how to ride the mud at a certain point in the moto. It’s just your vision goes, you know, you get down on tear-offs or roll-offs or whatever it is. And honestly, that probably is one of the biggest defining components of a mud race is your vision.

Image: Octopi Media.

Some of the math for the overall podiums hasn’t worked out this year. Do you feel you’re not quite where you were last year, or is it just the competition, the math, the overalls, or are there things these first three rounds until today you were searching for to get to this level?

Yeah, I feel like the first three rounds, I was definitely searching. I feel like I’m probably where I am or was last year if we want to use that as a comparison. So yeah, I was really happy with the bike today. One of the coolest things was from press day, we made a shock change, and it was exactly what we thought it was supposed to do, like what intentions we had on making the change, it did exactly that, and that was awesome because you hit the nail on the head. So that was cool. The team did a great job, and I’m looking forward to getting more time under my belt, consistent laps, familiarity, and just keep riding with a scoop tire. It feels like we’re going to be running it at Washougal this year. After the first moto, me and AP [Aaron Plessinger] were laughing about it, some of the sections, and we’re like, ‘We almost need to have just a gentleman’s agreement. See that everyone’s on it or no one’s on it.’ Second moto, he comes down, he goes, ‘Don’t worry about what rear tire I’ve got on.’ And he had a knobby tire on, and I was like, ‘Hmm, we’ll see.’ But actually, the paddle worked well in the mud, so it worked out again.

In the second moto it started raining, and it’s turning into a mud race, and everyone knows things change every second in the mud race. You’re kind of in a tricky situation with Jett coming behind you and not being far off Eli. When the red flag came out, were you like, ‘Okay, I’m going to take the second?’ Or are you pretty annoyed thinking, ‘Man, I could have fought for the overall today?’

No, I was frustrated because just the same as everyone, no one had any idea when the race was going to get called. If it was going to get called, you know, they gave us the halfway mark. I’m getting pretty close to the end of my tear-offs. There’s water getting under them. We’re getting deep into lapped riders. And I’m trying to think of how I’m going to, you know, catch Eli or make this pass, you know? Does he make a mistake or something like that? And then I can get in a pass and then throw my goggles and just try and cover him in mud. That’s honestly the thoughts that go through your head on a mud race. It’s like, how to ride defensively or make something happen. But honestly, that lap, I was planning to throw my goggles in the pit lane. And as I came over, they had the red flag. And I was like, ‘Okay, that makes me wish maybe I threw the goggles earlier.’ But again, you ride with no goggles and you get behind a 450. That’s not a really good game plan.

Mike Brown Hurt

Motocross legend Mike Brown was injured in a crash while practicing earlier this month. The 53-year-old sustained several serious injuries, including a concussion, a broken neck, a mini stroke (TIA), and a swollen artery due to bone trauma. All of these required immediate attention, and Brown underwent cervical spine surgery on June 5, during which a screw was placed in the C1 vertebra, along with metal plates on C5 and C7. He is currently recovering but continues to experience symptoms related to his injuries, including neurological and vascular complications. While long-term recovery will depend on the progress of neurological and physical therapy, doctors remain cautiously optimistic.

Motocross legend Mike Brown was recently injured while training and has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my entire Triumph Racing team for their unwavering support from day one,” Brown added. “I’m especially grateful to my manager, Jeremy [Coker], for standing by my side and ensuring that every medical decision was handled swiftly and with care. I owe a huge thank you to Dr. Ifeanyi N. Nzegwu for the successful surgery and outstanding care. I’m truly grateful for his attention, support, and expertise every step of the way. To my family and friends—thank you for your constant love, strength, and encouragement during this difficult time. Your support means everything.”

Ducati Chasing Tim Gajser for 2026!? Silly Season Bomb Drops Early!

Tim Gajser’s 2025 MXGP campaign started strong—racking up early-season wins and looking every bit like a title favorite. From dominating at the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina to showcasing top-tier speed in Spain and Trentino, Gajser was once again setting the tone for the championship. I was closely following each round and covering his performance as he looked poised to reclaim the red plate. Unfortunately, his momentum was cut short by a season-ending injury, but he’s still dominating headlines off the bike.

Despite being locked into a multi-year HRC Honda deal signed in September 2022, Gajser is now reportedly the target of  Ducati’s bold 2026 strategy. VitalMX’s Lewis Phillips lit up the rumor mill, claiming that Ducati is preparing a high-profile move to sign the five-time world champion—one that could shift the balance of the MXGP paddock.

Meanwhile, Ducati’s MXGP project is already showing serious promise. Mattia Guadagnini grabbed a podium at the Internazionali d’Italia in Montevarchi—his first with Ducati—and Jeremy Seewer delivered the brand’s first MXGP podium in Switzerland before repeating the feat in France. With two official MXGP podiums (and three total including pre-season), Ducati is no longer just a development story—they’re becoming contenders. And now, with Gajser’s name in the mix, the future looks explosive.

Malcolm..."Still Got All My Teeth"

Malcolm Stewart Update After Moto 1 Handlebar to Chin: “Still got all my teeth (somehow)”

At the fourth round of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at High Point Raceway yesterday, Malcolm Stewart had a tough crash that ended his day early. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider was tenth when he got cross rutted and began to crash, as the left side of his handlebars hit him straight to the chin. Stewart got up and rode off to the pits, ending his moto and scoring 39th officially. He went to the Alpinestars medical rig for treatment and did not start the second moto. His 39-DNS scored 42nd overall. 

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider took to Instagram this morning to provide an update. There is a weekend off this weekend before the June 28 Southwick National in Massachusetts. Through four rounds, Stewart is 14th in the 450 Class championship standings. You can watch the clip in his Instagram post below.

“Still got all my teeth (somehow) 🦷… but my neck’s been in a staring contest with the ceiling since that hit 😤 Took the biggest uppercut I’ve ever felt, and Moto 2 just wasn’t in the cards. We’ll heal up and be back soon 😎”

Hymas Injury

Hymas Injury

Following a late-race incident during moto 2 of this past weekend’s AMA Pro Motocross Championship round at High Point Raceway, Honda HRC Progressive rider Chance Hymas has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday, June 24, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

While running second in the day’s final 250-class moto, Hymas caught his right foot in a corner and immediately felt pain in his knee, although he was able to complete the race in third place for fourth overall; he currently sits third in the points standings. A June 16 scan confirmed a full ACL tear, as well as a slight sprain to his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and a minor contusion to his meniscus. This is the first injury to Hymas’ right ACL, although he has undergone two surgical repairs to his left ACL.

“It’s definitely a bummer—gut-wrenching,” Hymas said in a video posted on his Instagram. “It’s been a couple of hard days for me, trying to just process it. But now I’m looking forward to getting this thing fixed and coming back next year strong. I’m going to Vanderbilt next week and get this thing fixed up, then head out to Cali and work with Doc G [H. Rey Gubernick] and get me right. Once again, thank you guys for all the kind wishes. It’s not the news I want to be sharing, but we’re going to move forward past this. I’ve done this before, so it’s not going to stop me now.”

Although there’s not currently a prognosis for Hymas’ return, he will miss the remainder of the 2025 season, but he will be back with the team for 2026.

“Chance is as tough as they come, so when we saw him in pain after the High Point race, we knew it was serious,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “We’re gutted to have the injury confirmed, as he was just beginning to show his true potential, with a dominant 1-1 sweep at the Thunder Valley National a couple weeks ago. On the positive side, Chance’s past experiences mean he knows exactly how to tackle this challenge. He has our full support, and we know that he’ll come out the other side stronger than ever.”

Honda HRC Progressive has a weekend off before returning to action at The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts, on Saturday, June 28.

The Cowboy Chases Jett

Where's Chase?

Sexton Out 4-6 Weeks with Bone Contusion in Right Hand

by Troy DogSeptember 24, 2024, 8:58 am

Since Saturday night mush anticipation has been building around what Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton’s injuries were that he sustained on the first lap of the first 450SMX Moto.

As you know, Sexton was caught up in a racing incident with Justin Barcia, resulting in the TLD GasGas rider accidentally hitting the 2024 Pro Motocross Champion’s back and hand with his tire.

Sexton circulated the track for a couple laps before pulling in and he eventually called it a night. That led to a meeting about Team USA’s future and Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Eli Tomac answered the call to save the day and fill-in for Sexton.

Red Bull KTM put out the following press release about Sexton’s injuries and how long he will have to be out for:

Injuries sustained in Saturday nights SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final will unfortunately rule Chase Sexton out of the upcoming 2024 FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN), where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider was due to represent Team USA.

The impact to Sexton’s back and shoulder on the opening lap of 450SMX Moto 1 in Las Vegas has resulted in him withdrawing from the MXoN weekend scheduled for October 4-6 at Matterley Basin in the United Kingdom. Medical evaluations this week have also confirmed that he suffered a bone contusion to his right hand and wouldn’t be at 100 percent fitness in time for the event.

Chase Sexton: “Obviously it’s really disappointing to have my season end the way it did in Las Vegas. I’m especially disappointed that I am not going to be able to compete at this year’s MXoN. There’s no greater honor than representing your country on the world stage and it’s a role that I take seriously, but unfortunately my body is pretty banged up right now and I have a bone contusion in my right hand that is going to limit my ability to perform at my best next week. Team USA deserves nothing but the best, healthiest three athletes on the team and unfortunately that’s just not me right now.”

Team Manager of Red Bull KTM Ian Harrison: “MXoN is a unique event and being at the end of the long racing calendar year, it’s tough to have riders all fit and healthy after so much racing. We were lucky enough to have both Chase and Aaron Plessinger in the starting line-up for des Nations this year, but unfortunately Chase took a big hit to his body at the final SMX round in Las Vegas and won’t be healed up in time to race next week. However, Aaron is still ready to go and we look forward to supporting him alongside Cooper Webb and Eli