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Transcript
00:00A lot shorter than it used to be, we'll point that out at the top of the hill in this first moto.
00:05And a lot of these changes are actually done to fit more fans in the facility
00:08because of the crowd they anticipate for Motocross the Nations, which will be hosted here in October.
00:13That's then.
00:14But right now, we resume pro motocross and a 45-point lead for Deegan in the standings.
00:20I think if you quiz a lot of these fans, it seems like he's got a giant points lead that is still within one race.
00:26And Shimoda usually gets better as the season goes on.
00:28Plus, you have Hamaker and Marchbanks 1-2 in qualifying.
00:31So a lot of guys can watch here.
00:32Here it is.
00:34For the first time today in Ironman.
00:35The revs are up.
00:38Gaze down.
00:42One rider with a bike problem didn't even start.
00:44Another great start of the triumph.
00:46It is going to be Jalink Swole.
00:48He'll shot Moto one last time out of Washougal.
00:50I think it might have been Shimoda who just edges him.
00:53Here it is.
00:54Into the woods.
00:55Shimoda to the lead.
00:56Well, that's exactly what Joe wanted.
00:57Even Levi and the Kawasaki, they got good jump.
01:00They got pushed out.
01:01So Joe Shimoda coming off that win at Washougal.
01:03This is exactly what you want.
01:04Get out there.
01:05We know Vision is going to be an issue.
01:07At least the first few laps for these guys to get adjusted going through this wood section.
01:11Better place to be.
01:12Good to see Jalink Swole back as well after that crash at Washougal.
01:15Good to see Julian Balmer back on the 23, and that's Dax Benick back on the 34.
01:20That break allowed a lot of these riders to heal up, and then Deegan comes through next.
01:24Yeah, you can see Joe already getting away, and I think that was a lot of cause for him being that clear vision.
01:29These guys got to pay attention to everything going on with those ruts, so good start for him.
01:34And there's the Godzilla uphill jump.
01:37Lux Turner is also in the mix in the 65, battling with Deegan, whose sister won WMX Moto 1 yesterday.
01:44And then the WMX will be racing, will have the coverage as soon as these first motos are over for 250s and 450s.
01:51Lux hanging out at the front.
01:53Yeah, Lux don't have to look too far to find some motivation.
01:56His sister put on a great show at first moto yesterday, but looks like Hayden goes around the outside, which is going to put him down on the inside.
02:03Now he has his teammate, Dax Brennan, right in front of him.
02:06So we'll see how he plays it out.
02:07I'm sure this track put down a little bit of water, so these guys got to be careful.
02:11But overall, number one's already moving up.
02:13We can see these guys coming back.
02:15It was a back injury for Benick in Supercross.
02:19That put him out.
02:20He's finally back to racing.
02:21Deegan looking to make the move here.
02:24Yeah, this is that new section that they changed.
02:27You remember, it used to be a lot slower, so Hayden makes his way around his teammate because he sees that number 30 trying to get away already.
02:34And it looks like Levi Kitchen got around Lux Turner, so Levi's there as well.
02:38Yeah, a lot of talk about starts for that Monster Pro Sergeant Cowley team.
02:42Still didn't quite solve it here.
02:44Let's see if Kitchen can follow Deegan through.
02:46It's a close on the 22 of Swole.
02:50Send it to Kidd even more.
02:52Yeah, you're talking about Pro Sergeant Kawasaki, and Levi Kitchen actually was taken to California over the course of the spring to work on those starts.
03:00They said they did find something that is just a little bit different.
03:04Obviously, it paid off.
03:05All of them in qualifying were in the top 10, and now we see with Levi Kitchen.
03:09I also talked to Mitch Payton about Levi Kitchen, and they said he just has to get this early speed going, and he hasn't done that this season, but they know they have more in the tank.
03:18You know he has the speed, and they're hoping that here early, he can turn it on.
03:22Yeah, absolutely, and just suspending more on that, I spoke to Levi, and he feels confidence.
03:26He has the pace to run with Hayden Deegan.
03:29You go back a couple races ago where Levi was the fastest one on the racetrack in a lot of these motos, so for him, it's hard to get that early lap speed when you're in the back of the pack.
03:37You don't got that clean air, so it's a pretty decent start for him.
03:41And he's battling with Benick, and then here's Deegan putting the pressure on Swole, picking up where he left off.
03:47He hole shot and led on lap one at Washougal, then crashed, and then it was the end of his day.
03:52He wanted to stay out there, but the AMA actually black flagged and pulled him out.
03:57Had a week off, like everybody else, and obviously looks healed up and rested right now.
04:04Yeah, good to see Jalik back.
04:06Now Levi's got around, Daxson Bennett, so he's following the number one up.
04:09He knows how important that is, and ahead of those guys, Joe and Joe Shimoda's four and a half seconds ahead of all of them.
04:15So let's see how Hayden plays this.
04:18Does he take consideration at points league?
04:20We know how strong Hayden is as he makes the pass around Jalik.
04:23Oh, no.
04:24Jalik got him back, yeah.
04:26Earlier today, they were jumping all the way.
04:28At least Hayden was jumping all the way into that dip, so he probably won't do it now with the track conditions.
04:34Deegan in the sand, roller is trying to get small switches to the inside.
04:39And then right here to the finish line we go.
04:42Deegan going to try again, and it worked.
04:44Yeah, a little surprised.
04:45Jalik went on the outside right there.
04:46Maybe just missed his mark, but costly pass.
04:49Now he slides down to third.
04:50He's going to have Levi behind him as well.
04:53And Shimoda, 5.7 seconds, the gap.
04:57And there you see what Deegan has to work with.
05:00Yeah, still early in the race.
05:02It's hot out.
05:02We know how strong both these guys are, so it should be a good part of the moto.
05:07And I have to say, if anything, the struggle for Joe is these early parts of the races.
05:11So for him being out here, that gives him a lot of confidence moving forward because we know how strong he is at the end.
05:16Yeah, that's the thing with Shimoda.
05:19It always ends the races and ends the season strong.
05:22This year, trying to show a little bit more early on the opening round of Monster Energy Supercross back at Anaheim.
05:28And the start in this moto and those early laps, darn impressive.
05:33Get an idea if Deegan can close.
05:35And his average lap one for Shimoda is a 10.2.
05:42Oh, no, Pierce Brown, another rider returning from injury.
05:45He has gone down.
05:46Now back up.
05:47Set it down to JT.
05:49Thank you, Jason.
05:50And, well, for Hayden Deegan, it's really hard to ignore that there's been a big momentum shift.
05:54And, yes, the injury was really the catalyst for that.
05:57When he went down at Redbud, it really felt like the door opened for everyone else.
06:01And Joe Shimoda is the one that walked through it and had that rear brake not gone out for him at Spring Creek.
06:06We could be looking at a three-race win streak for Joe Shimoda.
06:09So coming off the brake, that was, I think, the main question.
06:13Was it a permanent momentum shift or would Hayden, coming in healthy, be able to reclaim the status that he had early in the season where he was the clear-cut guy?
06:21Now we have an opportunity to answer that question.
06:24But so far, I think Shimoda is making a statement here pulling out this lead.
06:27Yeah, and I would say, even though Hayden lost those two overalls to Joe, I still think Hayden was the fastest rider.
06:34And so if I'm Hayden, I still have that confidence.
06:36He was injured.
06:37Joe was – the difference to me, Joe's just been more consistent as he gets better at the end of the season.
06:43So he wasn't making those mistakes going, you know, 1-7 or whatnot.
06:47So he's more consistent.
06:48But Hayden was always the fastest.
06:49So I don't think he's worried about just getting that speed back.
06:52But he just knows Joe has that confidence and we can see what's happening and kind of surprised to see Levi going the other way.
06:58Tom Vielle, who's also back from injury, makes the pass around the outside.
07:04Oh, Kitchen not quite going to give him the inside.
07:07He finally has to yield.
07:09And Vielle moves up.
07:10Yeah, Levi watched last year's race.
07:12He knows Tom, especially in that corner, Tom will lean on anybody.
07:15He did that to Haydee Deacon last year.
07:18So good to see the number 16 back.
07:20It's been a struggle for him this pro motocross season.
07:23So see if he can wrap this thing up for the playoffs.
07:27So he's up to fourth.
07:28Swole holding his own here in third with the power players of this class.
07:33Swole only came back from injury about midway through after a torn Achilles.
07:37And he's hanging with them right now.
07:39Had a podium earlier in the year.
07:41So he has been a revelation since coming back.
07:43The gap, it was 5.7 between Shimoda and Deacon, and it remains just about that.
07:50Maybe a few tenths better for Deacon, but he's not making up ground in chunks.
07:55Yeah, he's not really losing time as well.
07:57I think a lot of that came from Joe having that hole shot going through the shadows
08:01because we saw that gap was four and a half seconds the first lap.
08:03So it's been about five seconds after Hayden had to get around a couple of riders.
08:07So that gap is going to stabilize.
08:09I'm sure it's probably going to close up as this race goes on.
08:12And the starts have really been a key for Shimoda.
08:16He was riding great really all season.
08:18He was the closest to Deacon early in the year.
08:20And then the starts fell off, and the results followed.
08:23Since he has moved back to the front early,
08:26well, the results obviously have been talking about having great.
08:30Shimoda actually, his deal was up.
08:32Hasn't said much about it at the end of this year.
08:34He's a free agent.
08:35But I just can't imagine why he and Honda wouldn't feel like this is a combination that's working for both sides.
08:41But nothing is signed as far as I know yet.
08:44Yeah, I'd be surprised if that doesn't happen, and especially the bike changes and improvement they made.
08:49Joe's finally comfortable on that Honda.
08:51So probably going to see the best of Joe Shimoda moving forward.
08:55And with Hayden Deacon moving up, Joe probably is that guy that you would look at next year.
09:00You've got a couple of rookies that was injured this year.
09:02It's going to be strong.
09:03But so far, so good for the number 30 HRC Honda.
09:06Yeah, and don't forget, we mentioned the 45-point gap, but that will, for the most part, reset, even if Deacon wins his title.
09:15The playoffs move, and Shimoda and Deacon went at it in the first World Championship SMX season of 2023.
09:23Could be a rematch this year.
09:25Bial on the Red Bull KTM.
09:27He has caught Swole for third.
09:30Yeah, you can see the gap that these guys have lost to Hayden and Joe.
09:33They're about 12, 13 seconds behind him, but Jalik's riding really good, holding his arm, and Tom, from coming off that injury again, the season hasn't been where he wants.
09:44So I'm sure this is going to be a good confidence booster if he can just continue moving up, maybe get on this podium for this moto.
09:51And they sneak their way into the trees.
09:53We send it back down to Katie.
09:55One thing to note about that Achilles injury earlier today in qualifying, I just talked to the team manager, Skuba,
10:00and he was saying how Jalik may have moved some scar tissue in his Achilles in that qualifying session,
10:06and that's actually why he did pull off track there.
10:08Fyke is good, he said, but the break was exceptionally good for his body.
10:12Well, it was good.
10:13That pass by Tom Bial right there up the inside just de-boat his way up there.
10:18I like the aggressiveness I see from Tom, you know, when he leaned on Levi and even just moving his way up.
10:23So, good for him.
10:25It's going to be a hard, hard ask for him to catch up to Hayden and Joe losing that time that he has,
10:30but still a good rod right now coming off the injury, being a running third.
10:34Meanwhile, Deegan has done it.
10:35He has taken a little bit of time out of Shemota's lead, about nine-tenths closer than where he was two laps ago.
10:43Catch up with Marchbanks, who has been catching up all year.
10:46Wow, power move around the outside of Max Voland, but yet again, Marchbanks having to make tracks from the back.
10:54The starts have not been there, but the results have been.
10:56He's actually third in the championship, and that was his first ever career overall last time out at Washougal.
11:05So, everything except the starts are trending for the 36.
11:07Yeah, I was surprised.
11:08I thought they were a little bit farther up than what they were off the start,
11:11but that wood section and not being able to see maybe something happen to Garrett,
11:14because him and his teammate, our fastest qualifier, are really far back.
11:19So, we'll see how it goes, but this is what Garrett's been doing all year long.
11:22You know, super fast, really consistent, strong at the end of the races,
11:25but he can't compete for that lead because he's always making passes coming from the back.
11:29Yeah, I talked to him yesterday, even clarified.
11:31I said, didn't you have one good start, like round one of how he's like, no.
11:35There hasn't been a single one.
11:36This year, it's good.
11:37We talked about him going past the 100 mark of passes made this year.
11:42That was a few weeks ago.
11:43It was probably like 130-ish.
11:44At this point, 150 passes made.
11:48Somebody's down there.
11:49Instead, it's Katie in a minute.
11:50Katie, what do you got?
11:51We're going to try to figure out who just tipped over.
11:52Go ahead.
11:53Yeah, earlier, Garrett Marchpanks has passed 147 people up until this race.
11:58Today, I can't even fathom what that's like.
12:00I was talking to Mitch Payton about Garrett Marchpanks and what he brings to the table.
12:04He said, weight-wise, we do know it's a disadvantage for those starts.
12:08He did have the tall blocks for his start, though, today.
12:11And earlier, thought it would help, but obviously didn't help with this moto.
12:13So, meanwhile, Mitch did say, though, his advantage is his fitness.
12:16It is what we are seeing.
12:18He's still good.
12:18He's still moving up.
12:20He's not getting tired.
12:21And that is a plus for Garrett Marchpanks.
12:23Yeah, and the daylight today is going to really help him.
12:26I mean, he's already up in the sixth.
12:27Only a couple seconds.
12:28You can see Levi right in front of him.
12:30So, he has an opportunity, but Garrett, his pace, I believe he can actually win one of these races.
12:35If he gets in there and be able to fight, he's probably strong enough to be able to do it, but he can't be starting from the back.
12:42I mean, you already see almost 30 seconds back behind these guys.
12:44And 17th was the start in this one.
12:48He now has Swole in his sights.
12:50That would be fourth.
12:51That was Levi we saw fall.
12:52Oh!
12:53You see him at the time he's going, dropping down.
12:56And then we mentioned that Pierce Brown went down.
12:58He's in this shot right here on the number 20, gaggle of Yamahas.
13:02And that's further back, trying to figure out what spot that is for Brown.
13:09And then Bannock, who had the good start, he is back to 24th.
13:12That was actually the very back of the pack.
13:14Pierce Brown is 39th.
13:16Avery Long is 40th.
13:18As we check in with Beaumare, hit his head in a crash at high point.
13:23Didn't realize how bad it was.
13:26Wasn't quite a concussion, but didn't feel right at the next couple of races.
13:30He got 16th at Red Button.
13:31And he said, you know what, something is not right here.
13:34I need time off.
13:35And now he's going after Lux Turner in his return from Racing Turner.
13:41Actually, Beaumare was up there early.
13:43This is actually for 15th.
13:44So these are two riders that started up front.
13:45They're still battling.
13:46But about 10 positions further back than they were on lap one.
13:50Yeah, well, if you have trouble to see before,
13:52he's just always making his way around Lux.
13:55But, yeah, I know Julian wants to be better in this.
13:58But that just shows you how deep this field is,
13:59especially when these guys are, how many guys are coming back.
14:04So with this battle now, with the kitchen going down,
14:07it's these two swollen march banks for fourth.
14:10Deegan has actually lost some ground to Shimoda.
14:13It's back to 6.4.
14:15Yeah, Joe's looking a little bit more comfortable out front.
14:19Just ran his 205 to Hayden's 206 that last lap.
14:21So got that.
14:23And now Garrett's making his way.
14:25Hopefully, if he can get around Jalik, he might have a chance to go out to Tom Biala.
14:28Because Tom's only a few seconds in front of him.
14:30And we know how strong Garrett is.
14:32And with Tom missing that time, Garrett might have a chance to be able to get in that third place, this moto.
14:38Swole getting a little crafty, I'm going to call it, going up that hill.
14:41He swelled up on him.
14:43He just saw it happen when Tom got around him.
14:46So he ain't going to let that happen again.
14:47Nope.
14:47Blocking March Banks.
14:49So March Banks has to put the attack on again.
14:51The rider out of Utah.
14:52It's the rider from Florida.
14:54Another attack.
14:56Yeah, Jalik ain't about that light right there to go around.
14:59But he knows.
14:59Now I notice this year they put a burn on outside.
15:02Guys couldn't actually bank off that.
15:03Years past, they wouldn't have been able to do that.
15:06So Garrett's marching his way up for sure.
15:09And that's what he does.
15:12March Banks.
15:13Again, third of the championship.
15:14Probably underrated because you don't see him battling for the lead.
15:19But the big man from Utah.
15:22Riding well.
15:22I don't know if he can get any further forward than this.
15:24Let's check in with the fast qualifier.
15:26That is Hamaker on the 56th.
15:29Battling rider DeFrancisco.
15:31But this is for 12th.
15:35Yeah, and that's hard when you think about Seth.
15:37You know, he was your fastest qualifier.
15:38Said he felt good.
15:40Felt refreshed coming in here.
15:41But now, you know, he's battling for where we're at right now.
15:45He's 12th place, 13th right now.
15:48Yeah, so the results I'm going to say how he's been riding.
15:51But nice move by him.
15:53Getting up.
15:55Rider DeFrancisco.
15:55Yeah, Rider De.
15:57I was thinking that was Lux, but he already got around him.
16:00Yeah, so the start's not there for that pro circuit team.
16:02I know they've been trying a ton of different things.
16:04It's a different engine in that motorcycle this year compared to last year.
16:08And just like that, we've reached the halfway point of this moto.
16:13Reminder that Monster Energy is available now.
16:16Deegan, the gap is seven seconds between himself and Shimoda.
16:23So Joe has answered the call, at least in the first half.
16:27We'll see if it changes later in this race.
16:29Check back in with Bolin.
16:30He's been solid eighth in the championship for Bolin on the Muckoff FXR Club MX Yamaha.
16:35That's the top non-factory rider.
16:38They do get help from Yamaha.
16:39They get bikes.
16:39They just don't get all the factory parts.
16:42Oh, he's battling it out.
16:43So the 107 has been great all year.
16:46Mikkel Harrop.
16:47And that section is going to get so difficult.
16:50You can see that bike dancing around.
16:52You're talking about another rider, Mikkel Harrop.
16:55Riding really good this year, breaking out on the triumph.
16:58Got Jordan Smith right in front of him.
16:59But nice fight.
17:01Yeah.
17:02Back and forth they go, yeah.
17:04And finally, it's like Harrop able to make the pass.
17:07And yes, Jordan Smith, the teammate of the triumph of the Hague.
17:11Yeah, you got three triumphs in a row.
17:13You got Jalik Swole, Jordan Smith, and then Mikkel Harrop.
17:17So, triumph doing what they have been these last few races all year.
17:20This improvement.
17:22Battle of the teammates.
17:25You see that a lot.
17:26The bikes, it's like they come in waves.
17:29So, we got three triumphs, 567.
17:32You see that with the Kawasaki guys.
17:34And Harrop now might put an attack on Smith.
17:38Yeah, well, usually you don't because normally you got their teammates.
17:41Somebody's out hurt.
17:42So, when you have them in waves like that, they're all pretty close.
17:46They just showed you how healthy everybody is.
17:48And you really are going to have a three-way battle for teammates in a moment.
17:53It's been great to have Harrop here this summer.
17:54So, the Danish rider who aged out of 250 racing in Europe in MXGP because they have a 23-year-old cap.
18:03Supposed to race a triumph 450 in MXGP, but the bike wasn't ready.
18:06So, he said, hey, you want to spend a summer in the United States.
18:10It's been great to have him here, Katie.
18:11Yeah, it absolutely has.
18:12And talking with Scooper, the team manager over there at Triumph, he actually said this was supposed to be a one-and-done season for Mikkel.
18:18And they thought he was going to come, learn some things, take it back to Denmark.
18:21But with how well he's done, how he's shown up, how he's learned the tracks, how comfortable he's been on the bike,
18:27they're obviously are very much reconsidering things.
18:29Oh!
18:30And, in fact, talking about being here in the States, he said on his vacation time over the last couple weeks,
18:35he went to Clearwater, Florida, and he said he was very surprised with how vacation-like it was.
18:41He said people in the States seem to work so hard, and they're always working, but he was stoked because he really felt like he was actually on vacation.
18:47Oh, wow.
18:48Oh, okay, so he already wanted to stay before he got the vacation.
18:50Nobody did that.
18:52That might just seal the deal.
18:54Yeah.
18:54That was being here.
18:55No, and I think they probably should look at maybe putting him on the 450 next year.
18:59He's a bigger rider.
19:00He is.
19:00And, yeah, he's impressed a lot of these guys.
19:02So, he went to Clearwater, Florida, realized how clear water was.
19:06It's like on vacation out here.
19:08Back to business, though, because he has caught Smith.
19:11This is a rare good start in motocross for Jordan Smithers.
19:14Honestly, one of the hottest things.
19:15Supercross is a good starter.
19:17In motocross, he is not.
19:19And he's been just waiting for his opportunity to run toward the front.
19:22He's doing it right now on the 19, JT.
19:25Yeah, just, you know, James mentioned that 450, and I think that's been the plan.
19:29You know, Triumph has been working to get this 450 out, and the race team to follow with the 450.
19:34And you mentioned there the size.
19:36Everything makes sense for Mikko Harp.
19:38He really just didn't have any place to go while that 450 was still in development.
19:41So, it could be one of those things where opportunity meets necessity, and it sets up perfectly for Mikko and the 450 program moving forward.
19:48And more trips to Clearwater, if that works out.
19:51And he's about to earn one.
19:52Trying to make the move on the outside of Smith.
19:55Yeah, and as I said, the lap before, you're going to have a three-way battle of teammates.
19:58Oh, yeah.
19:59There you go.
20:00Poster shoot.
20:01Yeah.
20:01Jordan Smith almost made the move on Swole.
20:04These guys are probably going to put in their fat slaps at a race.
20:07You know, when you get around your teammate, they all want to battle.
20:10Look at this fight.
20:12Three wide with the triumphs right now.
20:14Smith got the pass on Swole.
20:17He's in fifth.
20:18Yeah, Jalik looks back.
20:19Another teammate.
20:23It'll be tough on Jalik right now.
20:24Jalik comes back from the Achilles.
20:27He actually then tore that UCL.
20:29The ligament in his stomach has not been able to ride as much during the week as he would like.
20:33And he just got zapped real quick.
20:35I don't know if that's the factor or not.
20:37But Smith and Harrop are by.
20:39Yeah, you probably have to think that has something to do with the last couple injuries.
20:42Because when Jalik came back, he's been pretty strong throughout both these motos.
20:46And it's hot out here today.
20:47But at the same time, not hugely different than the last few races on somebody.
20:52So Jalik's, you know, struggling with something going on.
20:55It's not normal for him.
20:56But nonetheless, still the top ten at the moment.
20:59Smith's like, man, I did it.
21:00I got around the guy.
21:02That's surely going to help.
21:03Nope.
21:03He's still got Harrop right behind him.
21:06And now Harrop goes to the pass.
21:09See what happens here.
21:10Southside is a long way around.
21:12But sometimes you get stuck in this run right here.
21:15See if Jordan can get down and get towards the inside.
21:16It looks like his teammate got him.
21:18Yes, he does.
21:21That was a dyno test for the team.
21:23That uphill, both bikes wide open together.
21:25Mikkel Harrop doing it again.
21:27Up to fifth.
21:30Well, it's the usual suspects in this group.
21:32These have really been.
21:34And I've got to put Harrop in that group.
21:35They've kind of been the fast guys all year.
21:38That'll push Smith back to six, Katie.
21:39Yeah, the number 19 of Jordan Smith, he said he was actually a huge fan of that break and needed it more than he thought.
21:45He was expecting to get on the bike and ride quite a bit.
21:49He said he only rode one time during the whole break because he went on a beach vacation and then he got sick, in fact.
21:54So coming out here swinging, he didn't know what to expect having had a couple of weeks off.
21:58But I wanted to speak a little bit about the Triumph Racing team and talking to Jalik about that.
22:02He said it is really important to have these guys out here.
22:05Remember, last year, Jalik was kind of running solo and he didn't have anybody to debrief with, no one to talk about the bike with.
22:12And having a couple of teammates now who are all doing well within the series, it really helps elevate the game for everybody in Triumph.
22:19Oh, no.
22:20Pierce Brown, thanks for the report, Katie, who is coming back from injury.
22:25A bad one.
22:26Broken vertebrae back in Tampa.
22:28And now he has crashed out of this race.
22:31Hope he's okay.
22:31Now, the back, he said he was 100% healed.
22:33So I don't know if there's a fear of re-injury there, but definitely just took a big hit.
22:39Yeah, I'm not sure where he is on the racetrack, but he's not in a rush.
22:43And any time you see a rider laying on the racetrack, even though he's kind of off the side, that means they're probably feeling it.
22:48So bummer for Pierce.
22:49Okay, he's back up on his feet here.
22:55And it was such a road back for Pierce, leading the opening main event of the year, 250 East Supercross in Tampa, and then crashed.
23:03Good day for the Triumphs to have a good day.
23:05They got a sponsor for the day.
23:07Pristine Auctions is their title sponsor for this event.
23:10See some of the red logos on the bike.
23:11Deegan has closed in on Shimoda as we look at timing and scoring.
23:17So we might have a battle for it before it's over.
23:19Hey, folks, have you ever wanted to walk the track before the big race or hang out next to the world's best racers at an SMX World Championship event?
23:28Maybe before the 450 gate drop, get down to the floor, or dodge the champagne shower at the podium?
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23:47So Voland also getting around Swole.
23:53Let's check back in with the leaders.
23:55We mentioned that Deegan had cut the gap down, and now he can see Shimoda on that red Honda HRC Progressive Machine.
24:03Oh, Deegan off the track there.
24:05As you look at the lap times, Deegan is definitely closing.
24:08Yeah, I think Joe made a pretty big mistake because it was around four seconds, and he lost two seconds at last lap.
24:13Deegan's been going about a second faster over the last few laps, so I wouldn't be surprised.
24:19Looking at his body language, he's kind of cheating out the window.
24:21It seemed like Hayden was really relaxed at an early part of the moto, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's like,
24:25you know what, everybody talks about how strong Joe is at the end of the moto.
24:29I'm going to wait, and I'm going to get him at the end of the moto and beat the guy where he's the strongest.
24:34That's how Hayden operates, and that's kind of what I'm seeing right here because he's closing the gap pretty quickly.
24:38The pivotal moto right now, again, it seems like Deegan has this massive championship lead, but 45 points.
24:45Joe is still in it, so that makes this a critical juncture for Deegan to try to reestablish himself as the guy.
24:55And Shimoda, he won here in the past, so he's good at this track at Ironman, but he's going to have to fight for this one.
25:02Yeah, he's going to have to fight. Hayden's got the hook in him, and what Hayden's had the luxury of doing is seeing where Joe, now he's closed.
25:09Hayden probably had to change his lines because Joe was getting away, so by changing his lines, he probably found some good ones.
25:15We'll see how that plays out.
25:16Looks a lot more comfortable now than he did in that early part of the race.
25:21Gap a little closer at L. 1.6.
25:24Yeah, he's done him.
25:25Yeah, this is going to be interesting.
25:27Let's listen in.
25:28Oh.
25:32There's that big jump.
25:36Oh, it's coming now.
25:37Listen to the crowd pick up as well.
25:41Yeah, Hayden's got some really good lines.
25:44Still like this outside.
25:46Joe's getting Hayden.
25:47Hasn't been able to get over this double, but he got it to that lap.
25:54Oh, look at that.
25:56Five laps.
25:57Don't wait.
25:57Big push.
25:58That's the word for the mechanics.
25:59Joe's probably saying, what do you think I've been trying to do?
26:03So, at this point, Joe knows he's got a battle.
26:05He might as well prepare for the fight because it's coming.
26:10And it's what you love to see.
26:12The two title combatants going at it.
26:13And it's still the graphic on the screen.
26:18As they run, it would be a 42-point lead for Deegan.
26:22Because Shimoda would gain three if he wins that moto.
26:25But it is a big if right now.
26:27Deegan has cut what was once a seven-second gap down to about one.
26:32Yeah, but Hayden's got this side of the track figured out.
26:35His lines, if you watch him, he's not stopping through these corners.
26:38So, some of these things he'll square up, jump over some of these bumps.
26:42So, let's see how that works out.
26:44He's going outside here.
26:45Now, he'll switch back to the inside, jump over this thing.
26:47So, to me, he's got it figured out.
26:51Joe better watch out.
26:52Otherwise, Hayden's going to sneak up to the inside of him really quickly.
26:57Almost showing a wheel right there.
27:01Headed toward this big monster launch.
27:03Deegan going to run the outside.
27:05He's right there.
27:12Ah, it's fantastic action here at Ironman.
27:16And Deegan loves this smooth right side.
27:20Flirting with those track markers.
27:23Almost there.
27:24Yeah.
27:24Now, if Joe's still in front of this next lap, you'll see Joe switches line.
27:27He should go to the inside because Hayden will pass him.
27:30It's another opportunity.
27:31We saw the last lap, Hayden crisscrossing.
27:34So, he might have another opportunity here.
27:36If he stays a little bit wide, jump back to the inside.
27:38He should be able to get up the inside of Joe.
27:41And Joe jumps into the sand to try to fend him off.
27:44And it worked.
27:45Now, Deegan around the outside.
27:47Would you put him on the inside right here?
27:49Hayden's going to go outside.
27:50There you go.
27:51And the slow race cuts him off on the brakes.
27:56Deegan to the lead.
27:57Now, you can look at that part attitude, but I think a lot of that was Hayden wanted to stop Joe from squaring up the inside of him and doubling that jump and getting back around him.
28:05So, what a race.
28:08Oh, boy.
28:09Can Shimoda respond?
28:11Statement time from Deegan, if not.
28:16As a rider, the best thing you can do right now is to get around Hayden.
28:20You don't want him to lead even a lap.
28:21So, you've got these lap riders in front of you.
28:24Hayden has some good lines.
28:25So, you've got to get him.
28:26Weiss stuck behind him.
28:28Yep.
28:28It's the teammates.
28:29Turner and Long.
28:30Oh, Deegan was tucking the front.
28:32I don't know how he kept it upright.
28:33Yeah, Hayden knows how important it was to get around both those guys.
28:38He's pushing it.
28:40In the woods, you like Deegan's lines back here.
28:44Yeah, I just like it.
28:44It's his momentum, but Joe's obviously pushed up the pace.
28:47And Joe's a smart rider.
28:48He'll probably start following Hayden if he can.
28:51If he feels like his lines are better, you can see how much harder Joe is pushing him.
28:58Up to the Godzilla uphill.
29:00And they're both doubling to the inside.
29:02No, Shimoda does triple.
29:03Oh, Shimoda's throwing everything he has at it to keep Deegan in sight.
29:18It takes a little bit of a look back.
29:19Probably trying to figure out whether he goes inside or outside this next one,
29:22depending on how close Joe is.
29:25Look at those runs.
29:27Every one of those inside looks so promising.
29:31But they are not easy.
29:32And now look at Deegan getting away.
29:33With Deegan, what kind of comfort do you get?
29:41Do you know you could spend a few laps to maybe experiment with the lines and have that kind of patience?
29:47Yeah, I don't know.
29:48I mean, I would be curious to see what JT thinks.
29:50But I think Hayden, Joe was just better.
29:52Joe had better lines.
29:53Hayden probably had to let the track work in.
29:55So maybe not necessarily experimented.
29:57He probably had to switch it up to find that pace to catch Joe because Joe was on him.
30:02But I'm not sure, JT.
30:03Yeah, I agree with you, James.
30:05I think Hayden was looking around.
30:06Like, he was back there trying to figure out why he wasn't able to close.
30:10And that opened up those lines that he's used.
30:12And for Joe here, he has to keep an open mind.
30:14And he needs to just walk in and follow Hayden because what he was doing stopped working.
30:19And this track changes.
30:20Lines come in.
30:21They start to go away.
30:22And for right now, Hayden has the track dialed, just as James said.
30:25And Joe has to respond mentally and change it up.
30:28Well, Tom Pial is going to have to respond here soon, JT, because Marchbanks has caught him.
30:34And that is a battle for thirds.
30:36So this is going to be interesting if Marchbanks can unseat him as Shimoda keeps going to work.
30:43Trying to solve this riddle with Deegan.
30:46Yeah, it's important for Joe.
30:47Even if he's not able to beat Hayden, his moto, he's got to stay close to him so he can see these lines
30:51and start regrouping for the next moto.
30:53Because I agree with JT.
30:55There's lines that Joe are running.
30:56He's still running those things.
30:58And it's changed.
30:59So now you see him switching things up.
31:03This race ain't over.
31:04If Hayden gets caught in these lap riders, Joe gets that confidence and not losing that much time.
31:08He'll put another push back into him.
31:10It's going to be two to go next time around.
31:17Here comes the big launch.
31:20Even though the outside is a longer way around, I like it because you stay lower off this jump.
31:25So you carry a lot more momentum.
31:27And Hayden's running this outside.
31:28So he's not breaking hard.
31:30Just keeps that flow.
31:31I like going down straight in these corners instead of trying to round it off, especially with these hooks into it.
31:36So to me, Hayden's definitely got a better flow right now around this racetrack as he's changing.
31:41Well, stopwatch doesn't lie.
31:44He has now opened it up over Shimoda.
31:48You know, we have not heard the traditional trash talk from Diga this summer.
31:57It's been much quieter than he had been in previous seasons.
32:00I wonder if he does pull off this come-from-behind win against Shimoda.
32:03Well, here's something to further put that momentum back on his side.
32:08Back to Marchbanks.
32:10Was battling the alleys.
32:11Lost a little bit of time in this fight for third.
32:14Yeah, Tom responded.
32:16I'm not sure if it was a mistake by Garrett.
32:18Tom was a little bit closer earlier, the last lap.
32:23I mean, but Tom looked like he was responding.
32:25Now Garrett's on his back foot.
32:26So Tom's got a lap.
32:28Trying to pull this thing, two laps to pull this thing off.
32:30Hold on for a third place, which would be good for coming back from the injury.
32:35And Diga now starting to get it in control.
32:39Nearly a four-second gap between himself and Shimoda.
32:48That's a heck of a ride.
32:51Seven seconds he had to make up at one point.
32:55Yeah, it gives you a lot of confidence if you're Hayden figuring this part out.
32:59And Hayden's been really good his whole career.
33:01When things are challenging for him, he goes to work.
33:04And a track like today is going to play out proudly.
33:07Same thing in that 450.
33:08The guy that's going to be able to adjust to this racetrack because it's changing every lap, it seems.
33:14It's going to win this race.
33:15And Hayden so far has been the best one at doing that in this moto.
33:17If Diga wins this moto, he'll actually move into the top ten all-time and moto wins.
33:24Their old friend Blake Baggett, former champion of the series, they'd be tied for tenth all-time and moto wins in this class.
33:32Who's at the top?
33:34At the top of that list.
33:35That's my guy.
33:36That's my guy.
33:36Hook you up.
33:37I'll hook you up, man.
33:38We won't talk 450s and all that.
33:40Jet Lawrence is starting to catch some people.
33:41But in a 250 class, let's be honest, 125 two-stroke for you.
33:45Nobody did it better.
33:46So this is Hayden Deegan with a white flag coming out.
33:50So did you suck that up, James?
33:51That's why I'm not saying anything.
33:52I don't even want to start the next conversation.
33:54Look, Deegan's already said, I'm racing a 450 motocross next year.
33:58He's not catching you.
33:58Get out of my class, son.
34:00Get out of my class.
34:02As for the rumor that was put out there by me that Deegan could be racing a 450 at the last race of this year,
34:10so that apparently came from the team owner, Bobby Regan, not from the Deegans.
34:15I talked to Brian this morning.
34:16They said they have no intention of doing that.
34:19That's next year, 450, because remember, if he wraps this title, and that's an if,
34:25because mathematically Shimoda's still there.
34:28Still three 250 races to go at the SMX Playoffs and World Championship.
34:32Still a 250 at motocross the nation, so 450 is very much a 2026 thing.
34:38Yeah, and it would be a mistake to me if they race it,
34:42and it's not saying that Hayden couldn't jump on it and compete with these guys,
34:45because he has the talent.
34:46But I think motos like this is going to help him to compete against Jet Lawrence
34:51to be able to figure out how to go faster.
34:54And Hayden, this is an impressive moto to me, to be able to go to work on the fly,
34:58figure out Joe has got that confidence.
35:00We know how strong Joe is at the end of the motos.
35:02Hayden figured that part out.
35:03So that's going to help him compete in the 450 class, because it's not all about speed.
35:07It's about adjusting.
35:09So Hayden's got three races left.
35:10Let's see if he can wrap this title up, back a three-peat for the XMX World Championship.
35:17There's a lot on the lot for him still.
35:18And what's also on the line is if he can get it to about a 50-point gap
35:22at the end of the next weekend during St. Unidillo,
35:24then he would wrap up this championship early.
35:27And that's kind of that Mendoza line.
35:28But Shimoda would at least like to stave it off,
35:31take it down to the finale at Bucks Creek in two weeks.
35:34And it'll be very close, depending on these next four motos play out.
35:39But Deegan certainly making his best case to wrap it up early right here.
35:45Yeah, but I think the good thing about Joe Shimoda, his attitude,
35:49you know, he's going to be bummed, you know, really disappointed on how this moto goes.
35:53But it's not going to deter him.
35:54He'll come back and fight.
35:56And that's been his whole career.
35:57He never gives up.
35:58So out of all these 250 guys, I like Joe's attitude to be able to come back.
36:02And I wouldn't be surprised if he wins a second moto because of that.
36:05Yeah, we saw a couple other races this year.
36:07He did that out by Shugel.
36:08It was a 1-2-2-1.
36:11And one more leap through the Hoosier hole here in Indiana
36:15and then back into the sand rollers.
36:19And Hayden Deegan showing the break.
36:20Did him some good.
36:21Yeah, it was that crash.
36:24We saw him qualifying at Red Bud.
36:25That maybe held him back for a few weeks.
36:26He's clearly rested, ready, and ready to win again.
36:31Hayden Deegan takes moto one at Ironman 2025.
36:35And a big statement there.
36:42Shimoda had the drop on him.
36:46Back to business.
36:47Back where he belongs.
36:48Yep.
36:50And you see Deegan, you're going to see someone with a camera running to film him.
36:53That's his specialty as well.
36:55There you go, James.
36:58Look at that list.
36:58Let's just read the graphic.
37:01Yeah, well, he's closing in.
37:02He's only 30 back.
37:03So he's all right.
37:04Almost halfway there.
37:07He's there.
37:07He's very impressive.
37:09I'm glad I don't got to race him.
37:10So, yeah, good job, Hayden.
37:12He's still able to be humble.
37:14I respect it.
37:15Okay.
37:15There's Deegan.
37:17Oh, little Cheshire Cat.
37:18Great.
37:18He's got to be happy with that.
37:20The Owl.
37:21This is wild.
37:22The Owl's going to finish third.
37:23Great ride.
37:24But the gap.
37:2652 seconds between third and first.
37:29That's the level that Shimoda and Deegan have taken it to right now.
37:32They pushed each other for that moto win.
37:36So, Hayden Deegan looking to reclaim control.
37:39The two.