Haiden Deegan, the defending 250 class champion, kicked off the 2025 Pro Motocross season with an emphatic sweep at the Fox Raceway Nationals. This dominant performance saw him win both motos, immediately establishing a strong lead in the championship standings. His flawless record at his hometown track, a venue he has raced since childhood, continues.
Deegan’s Unstoppable Performance
Deegan showcased exceptional race craft and composure throughout the day.
Overcoming Early Challenges
In both motos, Deegan faced early challenges. He started Moto 1 outside the top five. In Moto 2, he began from third position. Despite these modest starts, Deegan remained undeterred. He patiently and confidently navigated through the field. His dominant riding style allowed him to steadily move toward the front.
Post-Race Reflections
After securing the win in Moto 2, Deegan shared his thoughts with Peacock’s Jason Thomas. “My bike could be better,” he admitted, acknowledging the challenging track conditions. “This track is so gnarly; it’s outdoors. You’ve just got to dog out. Perfect. One-one, same as last year. I’m stoked. We’re going to send it this year.” His determination and satisfaction were clear.
Championship Standings and Key Competitors
Deegan’s commanding win at Fox Raceway places him firmly at the top of the 250 Motocross championship.
Early Championship Lead
Haiden Deegan now holds a six-point lead in the championship standings. This is a significant advantage after just one round. He will carry the red plate into the next race.
Jo Shimoda: Consistent Runner-Up
Jo Shimoda of Team Honda HRC Progressive secured second place overall. He consistently finished second in both motos. Shimoda expressed surprise at his strong performance. “It was a lot of surprise,” he stated. “To be honest, I wasn’t feeling that great coming in. But I told myself, ‘let’s get a good start and make something happen.’” Shimoda will be focused on challenging Deegan in upcoming rounds. In Moto 2, Shimoda took a little too long to pass Julien Beaumer for second. This delay allowed Deegan to build a comfortable lead.
Tom Vialle Secures Overall Podium
Tom Vialle finished third overall at Fox Raceway. He placed fourth in Moto 1 and improved to third in Moto 2. This consistent performance earned him a valuable podium spot.
Julien Beaumer’s Strong Start
Julien Beaumer, from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, showed great speed early in the races. He led the first lap of Moto 1, a significant milestone in his Pro Motocross career. However, he faded to fourth at the checkered flag in both motos, finishing fifth overall.
Top Five Finishers
Garrett Marchbanks rounded out the top five overall. He secured sixth in Moto 1 and fifth in Moto 2. Chance Hymas finished sixth in Moto 2. He ended the day fourth overall with a 3-6 moto score, just missing an overall podium.
In-Race Highlights and Moments
Several key moments defined the racing action at Fox Raceway.
Moto 1 Dynamics
Beaumer and Vialle had an intense start to Moto 1. They emerged in the top two positions. Beaumer led the first lap, marking his first career Pro Motocross lead. Deegan started around seventh position. He then steadily climbed through the field. When Chance Hymas, who was leading, went down, Deegan moved into third. Shimoda worked his way into second.
Moto 2 Action
Deegan had a much better start in Moto 2. He quickly settled into third position. There was an initial three-second gap to the leaders, Vialle and Beaumer. On Lap 5, Deegan made a decisive move around Vialle to take second place. He was then 2.3 seconds behind Beaumer. Just before the halfway mark, Shimoda passed Vialle for third. On Lap 7, Deegan was right on Beaumer’s back tire.
Shimoda was about a second behind Deegan. Later on that same lap, Deegan made the winning pass for the lead. Shimoda could not follow him immediately through. Deegan then set his fastest lap of the race in the final seven minutes, pulling away.
Noteworthy Incidents
With two minutes remaining on the clock, Levi Kitchen retired from Moto 2 due to a broken chain. He had earned minimal points in Moto 1 with a 10th-place finish.
As time expired and two laps remained, the top five positions were firmly held by Deegan, Shimoda, Vialle, Beaumer, and Marchbanks.
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