Image: Octopi Media.

250SX West number one Haiden Deegan’s move in San Diego that saw title rival and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Max Anstie drop out of podium contention wasn’t intentional, declared the new points-leader post-race.

The 20-year-old recorded the fastest 250SX qualifying time before chasing down and passing Anstie for a convincing heat race victory, but it was contact between the pair that led to the latter going down that stole the headlines.

A fast-starting Anstie earned the holeshot in the main event, only for Deegan to arrive on his rear wheel during the opening laps before executing an aggressive pass that left the number 61 – complete with the red plate after his Anaheim 1 victory – on the ground.

Deegan would go on to clinch his first main event win of the 2026 season, while Anstie recovered to fifth, surrendering the red plate in the process.

“This world may have gone a little soft, but it was really not intentional to take Max out,” Deegan recalled. “When you race Supercross, you go up the inside like that, a guy will go to cut down. And all I did was try and cut down with him and ended up getting his front wheel.

“And yeah, I’ll go tell him sorry whether he takes it or not, but it wasn’t on purpose. So it was a good night, though, and that’s all that matters.”

“The goal was, like, I just wanted to get around him and take off and try and get a lead and not focus on anything around me and just focus on myself. So, unfortunately, that incident happened, which, you know, it wasn’t intended to take [Anstie] out – I was just glad I could get by him and take off.”

When pressed on whether he believes Anstie will retaliate, Deegan explained that he is ‘always ready for anything,’ while adding that he would prefer to clear the air between the two: “I mean, it wasn’t really a dirty, dirty move. It wasn’t intentional that way, which I mean, retaliation, this, that, or whatever, I’m always ready for anything.

“And we’re racing dirt bikes, so if that’s what comes down to it, comes down to that… hopefully it doesn’t need to – I’m going to go talk to him and try and clear the air because it truly wasn’t intentional. But I mean, it’s racing dirt bikes, right? So if that happens, it happens, and I’m ready for it.”

Deegan’s 4-1 start to the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Championship sees him take charge of the red plate with 43 points, one clear of previous series leader Anstie in P2 entering round three at Anaheim 2 this weekend.