Image: Octopi Media.

Switching start gates prior to the Anaheim 1 250SX main event saw Haiden Deegan ‘regretting’ that decision post-race, having been caught in the mid-pack early on and eventually finishing outside of the podium.

Reigning 250SX West title-holder Deegan was second in qualifying, before taking a convincing heat race victory 8.565s clear of Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki).

Deegan holeshotted his heat from the gate beside the box, before moving one position further to the left for the main – flanked by Chance Hymas (Honda HRC Progressive) and Lux Turner (Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha).

The switch ultimately proved costly, as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Deegan emerged outside the top 10 in the opening laps and was forced to play catch-up, climbing to salvage fourth position to commence his title defence.

“I really made a mistake switching my gate at the start – I’m regretting that one,” commented Deegan post-race. “I should have just stayed where I was at… I don’t know, I was just trying to find a better rut. It happens, though, it’s the first round.

“The box gate was pretty rough. I was trying to get on that smooth gate and, unfortunately, I should have just realized I have suspension on my dirt bike and stuck with that bumpy gate.

“Obviously, I wanted to win,” he continued. “That’s always the goal, but I’m not tripping. I know how many races we have, and [we’re] still in the top five at the first round healthy, so we’ll just go back to work.

“And I know I have my starts, right? I just brain-fogged on that one. We’ll get everything back in line and come out swinging next weekend.”

Deegan now sits seven points behind teammate and A1 race winner Max Anstie, with the second 250SX West round set to take place this weekend inside San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.