Round five of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship entered the sands of Southwick, Massachusetts, where series leaders Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan notched convincing 1-1 performances across their respective divisions. Hear from both riders in Debrief as they spoke with the media following the race.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Jett, congratulations. You had an eventful day with the holeshot in both motos and keeping the lead to go 1-1 today. The lead was different in a sense, we’re used to seeing you manage that gap, and today you just took off. So what was the difference about the race today that stood out?

I didn’t worry too much about managing the gap, I just had a good flow. And I know with sand, whenever you try to ride slow, then the flow you’ve kind of built, it’s a lot harder to try and ride with less energy. So whatever flow you have with you, you kind of stick with it, and that’s what I ended up doing, is tried to stick to that flow and not use a lot of energy. And yeah, I just felt good today. Obviously, both starts were good. So, super happy.

You tied James Stewart today in career overall wins. I know you joked about the whole beating him on the golf course thing. But what do these records or getting up in the record books mean to you in this sport?

It’s cool. To see your name [there], obviously, this early in my career as well. Being up there, it’s really cool. It’s an honor to be with those names. Obviously, James is a very well-known name in our sport. So it’s really cool. I talk some smack with him on the golf course because he sends that over text to me. But no, it’s an honor to be tied with him. Hopefully, we’re not still tied with him after a few weekends [laughs]. Hopefully, we can just keep chipping away and doing that. But as long as I just focus on my racing, I think that will take care of itself.

With today’s progress and the results, how does Redbud look for you, and what will you be doing this week to prepare?

Buying fireworks, and I wish I could drink beer, but I don’t like the taste. But that would be the proper way to prepare for Redbud, since it’s the Fourth of July. But we’re just going to go back to the same stuff as other weeks, and just ride the bike, and then try and replicate [today].

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Image: Octopi Media.

Haiden, we spoke yesterday during press about your ability in the sand, and if you plan to come out and make a statement. You were the fastest qualifier, you secured both holeshots, maintained a big lead, and now are tied with Jett Lawrence for career moto wins in your respective class. With these results, do you feel like you came out and made that statement today?

Yeah, I came out and just rode like I’ve been [riding], really. I mean, there’s nothing special to it today. I’ve been training hard, doing what I do. And yeah, evidently, I was pretty good in the sand today.

In that second moto, Jo Shimoda was charging. Can you gauge him, and can you see where he was? Also, on a track like this, where you don’t have the air time to look around, how are you able to see him and gauge where he is and his speed?

At the beginning of the race, I tried to sprint as hard as I could and get a gap where I could pace myself. I think I got up to around an eight-second gap, ten seconds maybe, roughly around there when Jo got behind me. I don’t know why, but Jo’s mechanic kept putting his pitboard out. I’m like, ‘Bro, I’m ten seconds ahead.’ I couldn’t tell if he said beat Jo or be Jo. I was like, ‘What are you saying, bro?’ So I mean, he said beat Jo. So I was like, ‘Alright.’ And I had to pick it up there at the end, though, because he was riding strong. Got it done, though. So that’s all that really matters.

Good week for you, you did SportsCenter. The attention that you have and the platform that you guys have, when you get the opportunity to do that, how do you take it in? And then as this continues, when you come into a weekend and you have that much hype, where do you go? Do you feel like you’re on another level? Last thing, too, how knowledgeable are the ESPN people about what you’re doing?

Yeah, it was pretty cool to do that. I had the opportunity to do that. It was sweet because I think ESPN was popping, because it was the NBA draft. So it was a great time for it. And I think my manager set it up or whatever. They know a little bit because of the X Games. The racing side, not as much because, I mean, that’s just not what they do. It would be nicer to get those guys, you know, over in the dirt bike side and keep growing the sport. But yeah, I’ve been surrounded by the hype since I was little. That’s the last thing that’s going to affect me. And right now, racing-wise, I just do my work, do my job, and get it done. And then, when I’m not at the track or not racing, the last thing I want to think about is the dirt bike. I just live my life, to be honest.

Has it been fun to find that balance at a young age? You’re still figuring it out. But the fact of like, you go do this. And there are no ramifications for you showing the life that you live.

Yeah, 100 percent. I think I show you guys exactly what I do. I don’t restrict that much. But I think it’s crazy what dirt bikes can get you in life. And I mean, that just shows you the sport is evolving. But again, even though I kind of sometimes put on this front that I’m having a lot of fun, I mean, clearly I’m still training. I’m still grinding. So when people freak out, like, ‘Haiden, you need to lock in.’ I’m like, ‘Don’t trip, bro. Don’t trip.’ But yeah, I like having fun, though, because I’m still only 19.

A weekend off and now a couple of races in a row. Heading to Redbud, are there any bike changes you’re going to make? What are you going to do looking forward to about the Fourth of July? Just hype us up, Redbud, and how cool that is.

Yeah, Redbud is a fun race just due to the fans. I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest fan of the track, but the fans are rowdy, so it gives you that motivation. I think this year I’ve come in with a whole lot more speed and just better on the bike in general. So it’d be nice to keep what we’re doing going. Go have some fun.

So I think we would all like to know how you truly spent your weekend off, after last week’s press conference.

I had a little more fun than these guys. I flew to LA from pretty much Wednesday to Sunday. I was having a good time. So still training. I still did a couple of runs in there and some core or whatever. But yeah, flew home Monday. And I had Tuesday, Wednesday to ride some sand in North Carolina, and flying back to do ESPN here, and time to race.