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00:00The Monster Energy Star Yamaha theme going, there is the 18-year-old New Zealander Cole Davies.
00:06It was a pretty inauspicious start to the season in Arlington when he went down,
00:09but then staged a great comeback to finish fifth.
00:12Then he finished on the podium in Daytona behind Seth Hamaker,
00:16and after that it has been wins, wins, wins.
00:21Three in a row for Cole Davies.
00:24Can he take the fight?
00:26Think about all the times at the practice track, right?
00:28Between him and Hayden Deegan, and we know things have been intense there between those two.
00:35It's a rivalry for sure.
00:36So now it comes back on the track where they get to go for the second time up against each
00:41other for real.
00:44History on the line here for Hayden Deegan.
00:47Can he be just the third rider to close out this title with two rounds remaining?
00:52We will see East-West Showdown here in St. Louis.
00:56It's on!
00:59Hamaker and Deegan.
01:00Handlebar to handlebar.
01:01Deegan does not get the whole shot.
01:03He's boxed in there.
01:04Davies gets a good start.
01:05Yeah, he's got to play it cool, remember?
01:07This is more of some chaos.
01:09They make it through.
01:11Oh!
01:11Hamaker hits the top block, but he saves it.
01:14How about the start from Nick Romano?
01:16He's in second.
01:17What an awesome, awesome beginning to this main.
01:21Oh man, what a start for Cole Davies.
01:24And I just have a feeling it's going to be a little bit different than what we saw at Birmingham.
01:29There ain't no way this dude is going to let anyone pass him.
01:35Well, he told JT after his heat victory, I am just focused on the championship.
01:40I've been dreaming about it and working and aiming for it for so long.
01:44But if he could defeat Hayden Deegan in an East-West Showdown, that would be something else.
01:48Oh, it would be huge.
01:50Again, he talked about it championship first, but you just have to think that he wants to come out here
01:57and dominate his teammate in the rest of the field.
02:01Great job for Seth Hamaker as well.
02:03You talked about it, Romano.
02:05Great to see him out here, see what he can do with a good start.
02:08There's that triple section.
02:10Look at Hayden.
02:11Is he able to go triple-triple?
02:13Yes, he does.
02:15Goes by his teammate Nate Thrasher.
02:17Nate's trying to come back on the inside.
02:19Great to see Nate back, by the way, after that heavy pull last weekend.
02:23Yeah, brutal crash in the whoops there.
02:25Spike just came and pummeled him.
02:29So there's two Kawasaki's to dispense of ahead of Hayden Deegan before JT gets to his teammate.
02:37Now, Deegan's on the charge here, as we can see.
02:39And you just wonder, I was listening to you guys talk about Davies.
02:42That's his teammate, right?
02:43He's been around Hayden Deegan.
02:45He knows what makes Hayden tick.
02:47And you just wonder, him kind of avoiding that question I posed after the heat race.
02:52You don't want to give Hayden any ammunition.
02:54You don't want to give him something to feed off of for that main event.
02:58So I think it was probably the wise move, whether he wants to go at Hayden or not.
03:02Just kind of avoid it.
03:03Sam worried about the championship.
03:04Nick Romano had an awkward moment there, and that's opened up the gate.
03:07Deegan just blasts his way through.
03:09Yeah, two-for-one special right there.
03:11There goes Hayden going triple, triple, triple.
03:14Lee, I told you this.
03:15There's so much chatter in how good Cole Davies is.
03:19And I'm like, man, it wouldn't surprise me if this guy right here, Hayden Deegan, tries to make a pass
03:25by Cole.
03:26If he's able to catch him and pass him in the whoops and be like, what now?
03:30I hear all you guys talking about how fast Cole is through the whoops.
03:33Could you imagine if he was able to do that?
03:36All right, three seconds is the margin.
03:373.2 to be precise between the teammates.
03:40Game on.
03:41Rub your hands together.
03:42Here we go.
03:43Oh, this is so good.
03:45This is what I wanted to see.
03:48Oh, man, championship perspective, though.
03:51Hayden is looking incredible.
03:53Max is buried into the pack.
03:55He's on 10th place right now.
03:57There's the gap.
03:59JT talked on that track report.
04:02This triple, triple section right here is going to be key, not only in the 250, but the 450 as
04:08well.
04:09Will, what you got?
04:11Well, we saw where Max Ansey was, and we know what that means for Hayden Deegan in wrapping this championship
04:16up early
04:17and getting to speak, Ricky, to Brian Deegan, his dad, earlier, and asking about the importance of that.
04:22He said, yeah, it's important because of accolades and things he'll look back on.
04:26But he said it's also important because if we wrap this up early, he's like, we get extra time on
04:31the 450 to prepare for the motocross season.
04:34He said if we don't, we basically lose half of that.
04:36So it's kind of the equivalent of losing two weeks out of the four in the break there.
04:41So that's what they've got their eyes set on, and that's one of the motivation factors here for getting this
04:45done tonight.
04:46And 1.2 seconds has been eroded from Cole Davies' lead.
04:51Here comes Deegan.
04:53Make it 1.4 seconds now.
04:55Yeah, here you go.
04:56Triple.
04:57Triple.
04:58Good job for Cole.
05:00Deegan's able to grease it as well.
05:03And, man, he has made up a ton of time.
05:06He was three-tenths of a lap faster.
05:08That last lap, he coming around this time, lap time, 56.1 for Cole Davies, 55.2 for Hayden Deegan.
05:19JT, what you got?
05:21Well, I'm watching Hayden Deegan reel him in.
05:24And I asked Davies on Friday, hey, what do you want to work on?
05:27You're on this winning streak.
05:29Things are going really well in the life of Cole Davies.
05:31But what do you need to do to be better?
05:33And he said section just like this, where you see him kind of posting in the corner.
05:37He needs to find more intensity.
05:39And when you watch Hayden Deegan, that's where he's excelling.
05:44Hayden Deegan finds time where other people simply can't.
05:47And he may make the pass right here.
05:48Wow.
05:49He made a mistake in the rhythm lane here.
05:51And you just wonder, is Hayden going to be able to get close enough, make the move?
05:55Oh, he misses the triple section.
05:57Cole does.
05:59They are together.
06:00The teammates are right there.
06:02Oh, boy.
06:02Here we go.
06:03The whoops.
06:04Now, listen, Hayden's going all the way to the right side.
06:07Cole is going to the left.
06:08Take a look right here.
06:10Hayden's going to turn down early.
06:12Gets a good run.
06:14Cole comes up short.
06:15Watch this.
06:15This is where Davies has been so blisteringly fast
06:18and does get through there faster than Deegan in that lap.
06:22Good run right here.
06:23But I just wonder right here, what's the play for Hayden?
06:26Does he make a move instantly?
06:28Or does he hang Cole out to try and put the pressure on and see what Cole can do?
06:34I think he makes the move and clears out.
06:36Deegan to the lead.
06:38Just like that.
06:39All right, Cole, what you got?
06:43Well, he keeps messing this up.
06:45Rhythm lane up right here.
06:49And just by the crowd's reaction, he could tell.
06:52He knew that Deegan was getting closer and closer.
06:55Well, this is the opportunity where Cole could really latch on to his teammate.
07:01See where Hayden is faster.
07:03I feel like Cole has the ability to make those in-race changes.
07:07Chad Reed was so good at that pulling audibles.
07:11Here's a different line.
07:13Hayden riding really well through the whoops as well.
07:17Wow, man.
07:19This guy's just rolling, dude.
07:21Look at the gap that he's put on Cole Davies.
07:23It's just, if he continues this momentum for another four laps,
07:27it is game over and another statement win.
07:31This has been a blue-through year for sure.
07:35Look at that graphic just to show you the domination by Monster Energy star Yamaha riders.
07:41Crazy.
07:42Yeah, and this race team, they have built something special.
07:48They have it at the goat farm there.
07:50They have all the assets that they need, JT.
07:52It's like a big league franchise over there.
07:56Yeah, and they put him in such a great spot to succeed.
07:59And for Hayden, Ricky, you know, Ricky, you've been in this spot where everything is coming easy on the smaller
08:05bike.
08:06And these performances are just screaming that he is now ready.
08:10And he told me right after the heat race, this is why I stayed down, to find this level,
08:14to make sure that beyond the shadow of a doubt, I was ready to move to the 450 class.
08:20And I'm thinking about this summer, Ricky, of what that is going to look like when he is up against
08:24the likes of Jett and Hunter and Sexton and everyone else.
08:28Yeah, I mean, it's time.
08:30You're exactly right, JT.
08:32His time has expired.
08:34There's nothing left for him to give in the 250 class.
08:38He's outgrown it, and he's done a heck of a job.
08:42He's answered the call pretty much his whole 250 career when he went into this class, and it's been a
08:51lot of fun to watch.
08:52We're over the halfway mark.
08:53Just a quick reminder to stock up on Monster Energy Drinks and on the run.
08:58Did you see the pit board from Brent Duffy?
09:016.1 seconds.
09:03Breathe.
09:04He said, breathe.
09:05Just take it easy, but you know that you've got this under control.
09:10We spent some time with Hayden yesterday, and you asked him, hey, is it a big deal to get this
09:16championship out of the way tomorrow?
09:17And Hayden's response was pretty funny and pretty quick.
09:21He said, yeah, I do.
09:23That way I can party in Nashville next weekend.
09:25That's right.
09:25He has a great time for sure.
09:28And don't let him fool you when he says that.
09:31He wants to set his sights on that 450 Pro Motocross Championship.
09:37He also said he won't have to ride this 250 anymore except for the time that he needs to race
09:43it.
09:43Oh, it comes up a little short.
09:45This is what we talked about.
09:46This track is becoming very difficult.
09:49A lot of ruts.
09:50They're not getting the pop off the jumps like they were early on in this race.
09:53But, yeah, now he can solely focus on the 450 performance.
09:57J.T.
09:58Yeah, and Lee, you were talking about that pit board there.
10:02Well, for Hayden and Ricky, you've been in this spot.
10:04It seems like I say that a lot.
10:05But it's so nice when you're coming along these parallel straightaways and Hayden can look over and see Cole Davies
10:11going further and further back because he knows that is telling him that Cole Davies has now basically given up
10:18on the race win.
10:18And he has relented to second place.
10:21And Hayden is now able to lower the intensity and ride off into the sunset.
10:24Yeah, he's cruising now.
10:26It's just staying engaged, J.T.
10:28And picking your way through the lappers.
10:31Whoa!
10:32Pitching almost goes down.
10:34That was a save.
10:35That was fourth place gone.
10:37Nate Thrasher moves up into the top four.
10:39Yeah, great, great heads up riding by Nate Thrasher.
10:43I have a feeling he saw that coming, so he slowed up a little bit to avoid any collision that
10:50could have happened.
10:52This is Max Boland ahead of Rider-D Francisco, and they are both ahead of Max Anstey.
10:58So you saw the graphic just a moment ago.
11:00Championship update with Deegan out in front in command.
11:04He is going to win back-to-back 250 West Division Championships.
11:09He stays where he is, and Max Anstey stays where he is.
11:13Rider-D on the inside of Max Boland.
11:16Good scrap, good move.
11:18Yeah, and he breaks a little bit harder there on that right-hander before the finish line to block Max
11:25to cut back underneath the inside.
11:30Great pass by Rider-D.
11:33The 34 there on the Rockstar Husky team, and he's done a great job this year.
11:38Man, I feel like he's come a long way in his strength training.
11:41This looks like he can ride the bike now.
11:43Bike not riding him.
11:45He can muscle it around.
11:46Great scene.
11:49There's the one, there's the one, there's the 141 of Nick Romano.
11:52He's coming off his best result this year of the two races, which was seven.
11:57He's about to be overtaken by Rider-D.
12:00He was in a, potentially a career-high best of sixth.
12:05So he's going to fight hard for that over the closing three and three-quarter minutes plus a lap.
12:10Yeah, and I feel like Romano is doing a great job here.
12:14I mean, coming back, fill-in ride, making all the laps, only his third race on the bike.
12:20And if you're Mitch Payton, you've got to be pretty stoked.
12:22And if you're Nick yourself, you've got to, you know, have realistic goals.
12:26And I think he's done a fantastic job.
12:28It's great to see him.
12:29I mean, he had a very successful amateur career.
12:32He is one of the hot stars for sure.
12:34And just had some injuries there when he's on that, whoa, Monster Energy star racing Yamaha.
12:40Just could never really get his feet underneath them.
12:42And then having this opportunity maybe is a second chance.
12:45There's that inside line I was telling you guys about.
12:47Lovely execution there.
12:49We saw the last chance qualifier in the 450s started working those inside.
12:54Ryder D just made that happen.
12:55Good job.
12:56It has been a very productive year for Ryder DeFrancisco.
13:00He came into this East West showdown.
13:03And Max Anstey is down.
13:05That really opens up the championship points even more.
13:09That makes Hayden Deegan's quest for this championship even easier.
13:14Well, and then what it's going to do also is it's going to move Kitchin into second in the championship
13:19as it runs right now.
13:21With Deegan has a 56-point lead versus Anstey at third place with 60 points back.
13:28So we've only got two and a half minutes plus a lap to go.
13:31Let's hear from the man out in front.
13:33We'll call him the champion elect.
13:35About what racking up huge career numbers means to him.
13:41Yeah, for sure.
13:41I mean, little things like that, 100%.
13:43Especially now in my career, I feel like I've kind of done a lot.
13:46I've accomplished a lot of goals.
13:48I mean, I've accomplished every goal I've had as a little kid.
13:50So now it's just adding.
13:51And I feel like those are little things I can chase, you know.
13:54Pit my name in the record books, you know.
13:57Adding my names to the list.
13:58So that's the goal.
14:01Well, with this win, if he gets it, it's going to be his 13th career 250 win.
14:07And that's going to put him in a tie for third with Jeremy McGrath, Austin Faulkner, Jet Lawrence.
14:14Yeah, he's in a rarefied air.
14:19Certainly.
14:20And he has earned it.
14:21And JT, I think about it, he wasn't even supposed to move up as early as he did.
14:28And that Monster Energy Star Yamaha team put him in there.
14:32And, man, did he step up.
14:34Well, Ricky, think about that year that he moved up.
14:38He did not have a good performance in Anaheim 2 when it was called Futures now at SMX Next.
14:43I think he was fifth on the night.
14:44It was not very impressive.
14:46And then they move him up and he immediately goes to fourth place in the East Coast in Houston.
14:50So to your point, yes, this has been remarkable.
14:55JT and Ricky, you know, he was chasing at that point, JT.
14:58He was chasing sort of getting better, right, and going for the wins.
15:01And then after a couple of goes and not getting it, getting that Supercross title on a 250.
15:06And, Ricky, you were talking about all the accolades and everything that they've now wrapped up.
15:11That is what I've been told has been his motivation.
15:14Obviously, when he's doing as well as he is and he's the class of the field,
15:17that motivation, and he's spoken openly about it, starts to wane a little bit.
15:21So all those goals, his dad told me that I need them.
15:25That's what keeps him going every week.
15:29There is Dad, Brian.
15:32There is his sister, Hayley.
15:35I saw I was in the paddock a little bit earlier.
15:38A lot of his family is here.
15:40He's got some friends as well.
15:42Huge moment.
15:43Oh, boy.
15:44Here's Levi Kitchen.
15:45Look at that inside line again.
15:47And look at that.
15:48Oh.
15:49Right at D.
15:49Right at D.
15:50There is no stopping him.
15:52He's on a mission.
15:54Oh, yeah.
15:54He's rolling right now.
15:56Levi.
15:57Levi was nice to him.
15:59He could have charged that corner a little bit harder to defend the position, but he did it.
16:05Two Rockstar Energy Factory House Barna Riders there running in fifth and seventh.
16:11So Daxton Benick had to go by the last chance qualifier, but still a good right.
16:15He's got a shot at getting by Kitchen for six.
16:26You have to wonder if Levi is probably not 100% still.
16:30Man, this track is getting brutal.
16:33You can see Levi kind of sitting up a little bit, coming into the corners, probably feeling it.
16:41Oh, there you go.
16:42Yeah, we're good.
16:44Nice to come back for Benick.
16:46One more lap to go.
16:48Quick look over his shoulder to double check that it was the white flag.
16:51Yes, it is indeed, Hayden.
16:54One more to go.
16:55And you're going to back up your West Division championship of a year ago, just like Dylan
17:01Ferrandez did in 2019 and 2020, just like Pepper Webb did in 2015, 2016.
17:09What a magical time for this super talented 20-year-old who has his eyes on moving up to
17:17the premier class to the 450s.
17:18He's been riding the 450 a lot.
17:21He told us yesterday he loves it.
17:23Oh, absolutely, and he wants to race the best in the business, guys that he has looked up
17:29to, and it is going to be a lot of fun to watch this summer and the SMX playoffs when
17:35we get there, and he has earned it.
17:37Like it or not, you've got to respect the talent, and he put a straight beat down.
17:42Just have a look at the clock.
17:4415 seconds, 16 seconds over his teammate.
17:47Dangerboy has done it again.
17:50Hayden Dagan is a champion.
17:52Hayden Dagan for the second year in a row.
17:56The 250 West Division champ, back-to-back years.
18:04Monster Energy star Yamaha's number one man aboard the 250, has done it again.
18:14What a solid performance, Lee.
18:16I mean, straight-up domination.
18:18The way you want to do it, you come through the pack, make a few moves, pass Cole.
18:25A lot of people saying that Cole is better.
18:27He can beat him.
18:28He's faster in the whoops, and the dude just absolutely came through.
18:32Look at getting the fans going and wins a championship.
18:39We've spoken about some rarefied air and special numbers.
18:44Look at this.
18:45Just the third rider to clinch.
18:48250 Supercross titles with two rounds to go.
18:52He says, let's go.
18:53You did, Hayden.
19:15A colossal, comprehensive victory.
19:21That's easy.
19:21That's easy.
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