Published On: January 18, 2026
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DThe reigning West Coast 250 SX champion takes a victory at SnapDragon Stadium, but the manner in which he did so may have long-lasting consequences for the Star Racing team.

If there's one constant in Haiden Deegan's young career, it's the controversy that constantly surrounds the Californian. This was no different during the second round of the AMA 250 SX West championship in San Diego…

Heats: Vohland and Deegan

The rather technical layout the Dirt Wurx crew had laid out in SnapDragon Stadium seemed to favor the Yamahas. This was evident right from the start of the meeting. ClubMX Yamaha's Hunter Yoder grabbed the holeshot in heat 1. But the Menifee rider ultimately lost to his teammate, Max Vohland. Chance Hymas finished third, ahead of Levi Kitchen and Robbie Wageman.

It was Max Anstey, last week's 250 SX West winner at A1, who secured the holeshot. It was another Yamaha celebration, as reigning 250 SX West champion Haiden Deegan ultimately took the heat win, ahead of his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing colleagues Anstey and Michael Mosiman. Cameron McAdoo and Ryder Di Francesco rounded out the top five.

LCQ: Schwartz

The Last Chance Qualifier was quite European, with no fewer than three Germans (Bloy, Koch, and Thury), one Dane (Matti Jorgensen), and one Italian (Lorenzo Camporese). The latter also managed to grab the holeshot, but it was local Dilan Schwartz who ultimately won the seven-lap LCQ, ahead of Canadian Preston Masciangelo and Camporese. Ty Freehill, another local, was the last to advance to the final.

Finale: Deegan

Once again, it was Max Anstey who took the holeshot. In the melee of the first corner, Levi Kitchen crashed. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider then launched a formidable charge, but by then the victory was already secured. Anstey led the opening stages ahead of McAdoo, Deegan, Chance Hymas, and Star Racing's third-place finisher, Michael Mosiman.

After a third of the race, reigning 250 SX West champion Deegan had relegated McAdoo to third place. Deegan then shifted his focus to leader Anstey. While overtaking the Englishman in a banked corner, things went wrong. Deegan's rear wheel touched Anstey's bike, sending him crashing. A move that will likely cause a stir in the Star Racing camp for a while. Shortly after, Mosiman launched an attack on HRC's Chance Hymas. Hymas nearly choked on a jump, but miraculously stayed on his Honda CRF250R, but ended up off the track. And with that, the final podium was set. Kitchen, who rode perhaps the most impressive overtaking race of his life, finished a creditable fourth ahead of Hymas and Anstey.

 

AMA 250 SX West San Diego – Results:

Final: 1 Haiden Deegan (YAM) 18 Ronden, 2 Cameron Mcadoo (KAW) +7.685, 3 Michael Mosiman (YAM) +8.240, 4 Levi Kitchen (KAW) +8.637, 5 Max Anstie (YAM) +14.2ynce + Rmas (7.4 Difrancesco (HUS) +33.378, 8 Maximus Vohland (YAM) +34.810, 9 Dilan Schwartz (YAM) +45.854, 10 Anthony Bourdon (KAW) +47.993, 11 Parker Ross (YAM) +52.870 +92, TM Avery: 12 K Lux Turner (YAM) +1 Rnd., 14 Carson Mumford (KTM) +1 Rnd., 15 Hunter Schlosser (HON) +1 Rnd., 16 Lorenzo Camporese (KAW) +1 Rnd., 17 Ayden Shive (KTM) +1 Rnd., 18 Rd.A Preston, 1 Masciangelo +1 (KAW) +2 Rnd., 20 Ty Freehill (HON) +2 Rnd., 21 Hunter Yoder (YAM) +11 Rnd., 22 Robbie Wageman (YAM) +13 Rnd.

AMA 250 SX West standings (after 2 rounds): 1 Haiden Deegan (YAM) 43 points, 2 Max Anstie (YAM) 42, 3 Chance Hymas (HON) 38, 4 Michael Mosiman (YAM) 37, 5 Ryder DiFrancesco (HUS) 35, 6 Levi Kitchen (KAW) Max 34,7 (YAM) 25, 9 Avery Long (KTM) 24, 10 Cameron MCAdoo (KAW) 22

 

Photos: Star Racing Yamaha

Video: YouTube.com/Monster Energy Supercross