It was an eventful Supercross Futures debut for Haiden Deegan as the emerging Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing talent displayed potential at Anaheim 2, but was impacted by a poor start and misfortune throughout the eight-lap main event.

Deegan set the pace throughout Friday’s practice and qualified second ahead of the night show the following evening, just over six-tenths from Julien Beaumer, who set the benchmark.

Being back in the pack off the start left the number 238 with work to do in the main event and he was fighting his way forwards towards the top-five when contact was made between himself and Preston Boespflug (KTM). Following a heavy impact, Deegan was able to remount and salvage P5 and leaves Angel Stadium with the clear goal of improving his first turn position.

“Overall we have been riding good, that’s not really our worry besides getting a good start,” Deegan explained. “I just messed up in the start then I was pretty deep in the pack. I went up to fifth and I was right there and then I got taken out – I haven’t really watched it back so I’m not really 100 percent sure what happened, but I fell and I went flying.

“Kind of flew over the haybale and into the middle of the rhythm, that was kind of it from there as it was only eight laps so had to play catch up. The fans and everything, the stadium, you want to go out there and win, but not every race is going to be perfect so got a long career ahead of us to keep on trying to push forward.

“I just had to get it out of the way, it’s my first one. It is good that I did this this weekend to get the thoughts and nerves out of the way. Something we don’t have to worry about anymore and just focus on what we need to execute and we will go figure out what we need to do. Get the starts a little better and definitely the next race we need to come out up front. That’s our goal, just got to go and execute it.”

The Supercross Futures main event in Anaheim was won by Daxton Bennick (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing duo Casey Cochran and Talon Hawkins completing the top three.