Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan got his title defense off to a great start with a hard-earned victory in the first 250SMX moto at the SMX Playoff 1 in Concord, North Carolina.

“It was a good day. The first qualifying was good, and the second qualifying wasn’t as great as we would’ve liked, but we ended up winning the first moto. I kind of got buried in the pack on the first lap, so we had to fight for that win. Even though it was one of the easiest days because there was a rain cancellation and we didn’t have the second motos, that was one of the hardest races, digging through the pack.”

Coming off his second consecutive 250MX title, Deegan started the weekend with the first gate pick. Although he didn’t get the start he was looking for and found himself seventh on the opening lap, he quickly went to work and made his way to the runner-up spot five laps in.

Deegan threw down some fast laps and claimed the lead with two laps to go, riding on to victory. The back-to-back 250SMX Champion’s hard-earned win, combined with his position as the top seed, has him heading to the second playoff round with the maximum possible 50 points and an eight-point lead.