Image: Octopi Media.

Previous points-leader Max Anstie has admitted that he ‘overlooked’ the aggressive tactics used by 250SX title rival Haiden Deegan, which left him on the ground in San Diego, adding that it ‘won’t happen again’ as the season progresses.

Anstie, 32, was engaged in a round-long battle with 20-year-old Deegan at Snapdragon Stadium, the pair battling during the second 250SX heat race before finding themselves together again in the main event.

Drama unfolded when the reigning 250SX West champion Deegan effectively took teammate Anstie out while making a pass for the lead, with Deegan going on to claim his first victory of the year while Anstie remounted to salvage P5.

“Obviously, I know who I am racing,” Anstie explained post-race. “I have watched the stuff with Jo Shimoda [last year], and fair play, Haiden is good at that type of riding. I wasn’t planning on putting up much of a fight in that instance, I was more like, ‘job’s done’, he’s made the pass.

“I wasn’t expecting the little brake slide into it, so, fair enough, I’ll go back, work on it – I’m a big boy, I’ll take it on the chin. I think I’m going to have to be [more aggressive], of course, although it’s a tricky one because he feeds off of that – the beef, UFC kind of style.

“So I’m going to have to be sharper,” he continued. “I thought I was aware, but I overlooked it. I didn’t respect the Haiden Deegan approach on track, and now I’m aware… it won’t happen again.”

Both Deegan and Anstie appear as early favorites in the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX West series, with the duo separated by just one point heading into the third round at Anaheim this Saturday.