In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 Denver Supercross, Haiden Deegan clinched the 250SX West Championship under a cloud of controversy.
The decisive moment came when Haiden Deegan executed a forceful pass on teammate and Kiwi rider Cole Davies, knocking Davies off his bike. This incident and a similar clash during qualifying have ignited debates among fans and officials alike.
Coming into the main after winning Heat 2, Davies grabbed the holeshot and led the early laps with Michael Mosiman and Deegan close behind. Julien Beaumer struggled off the start but quickly sliced through the pack to reach sixth.
Deegan worked his way past Mosiman and began closing in on Davies. Despite constant pressure, Davies held strong until late in the race when he left the inside line open.
Deegan seized the opportunity and dove in aggressively—but overshot the corner, going wide himself and slamming into Davies, forcing the Kiwi off the track.
Beaumer and Marchbanks capitalized on the chaos to claim second and third, with Jordon Smith sliding into fourth. Despite being knocked off track, Davies managed to regroup and salvage a hard-fought fifth.
The aggressive move allowed Deegan to secure the championship but drew immediate criticism for its perceived unsportsmanlike nature.
Davies clocked the fastest lap of the race, nearly a full second quicker than Deegan’s best, highlighting the Kiwi’s impressive pace and dominance before the incident.
AMA’s Response:
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) issued a written warning to Deegan for his aggressive pass on Davies and his subsequent podium speech where he practically told fans, “You can suck it”.
As Deegan began his podium speech, a chorus of boos erupted from the crowd, echoing disapproval throughout the stadium.
“I want to congratulate Cole; he is riding really good,” Deegan said.
“Two laps to go. I wanted the win; I was going to do anything for it. I saw an opening and took the chance. This means a lot [on the title]. Coming in, people doubted me and thought I was all hype coming into Supercross and Motocross. They are just mad that I’m him, and if you don’t like it, you can suck!”
This isn’t Deegan’s first brush with controversy; earlier in the season, he received a $1,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct during a heat race incident with Seth Hammaker, marking his second code of conduct violation.
Davies’ Reaction:
Davies was visibly distraught after the race, but it was a classy moment as riders like Aaron Plessinger and Justin Cooper made a point to check in and offer their support.
Davies may be young, but he showed maturity beyond his years in how he handled the situation, offering this statement after the race
“I got a good start and was focusing on just trying to build a bit of a gap and ride from there, but I got caught up with some lappers,” he said.
“I should have capitalized on that better, and, you know, that’s on me tonight. I shouldn’t have put myself in that position, but I’ll be back. And I’m going to keep working on, and keep on keeping on… [When asked for his opinion on the pass that resulted in him crashing] I shouldn’t have put myself in that position, to be honest.
“I could’ve been better in that department. But I’ll be back—just a big thanks to everyone around me. There have been many sacrifices to get me here, so big shout out to them, and I’ll be back at Salt Lake.”
Davies now shifts focus to the upcoming East/West Showdown in Salt Lake City, where he aims to defend his runner-up position in the championship.
Despite the setback, Davies has shown remarkable resilience throughout his rookie season, including a notable victory at the Seattle Supercross.
Fan Backlash:
The incident has sparked widespread debate among the Supercross community. Many fans have expressed disappointment over Deegan’s tactics, labelling them as “dirty” and questioning the integrity of his championship win.
“It wasn’t if you really watch it back; it wasn’t like a horrible dirty move,” said Deegan.
“I just kind of tapped him, and he went over the berm, and well, unfortunately, it looks like he got stuck. I was like, there’s no way he’s stuck. I’m like, I’m gonna win the championship right now. It’s kind of crazy to me. Obviously, it’s not the way you want to win it, but it’s racing; that’s how it goes and I definitely will do anything to win.“
The controversy underscores the fine line between aggressive racing and unsportsmanlike conduct in the high-stakes world of Supercross.
As the season concludes, all eyes will be on Salt Lake City to see how both riders respond to the heightened scrutiny and whether Davies can reclaim momentum in the final showdown.
Header Image: Monster Energy Supercross YT
