250
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan charged back to score a top-five finish at the opening round of the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship in Anaheim, California. It was a drama-filled 250SX West Main Event in front of a sold-out crowd at Angel Stadium, with rookie Cole Davies making an impressive pro debut and recovering from a first-lap crash to finish eighth. Michael Mosiman overcame adversity as well to salvage points with a 15th. Words: Star Racing
Deegan hit the ground running at his home Supercross race and showed speed from the start. After qualifying runner-up, the newly turned 19-year-old fired the first shot with the first heat race win of the evening. Unfortunately, he crashed after the start of the main event and found himself 19th. The defending back-to-back SuperMotocross World 250SMX Champion immediately went to work and fought to the finish, claiming fifth in the final moments of the race.
Rookie Davies turned heads with an impressive pro debut at Anaheim 1. After qualifying sixth, he grabbed the holeshot in his heat race and went on to finish runner-up. Unfortunately, the 17-year-old New Zealander crashed at the start of the main event, collecting his teammate Mosiman in the process. Davies rejoined in 20th and threw down some fast laps to make his way to eighth.
Mosiman had a strong first race back, qualifying ninth as he worked to find his comfort zone. The Californian didn’t get the start he was hoping for in his heat race, but came back from 10th to sixth. Amidst the chaos in the run to the first turn, he found himself at the back of the field after getting collected by his teammate in a crash at the start of the main event. Undeterred, Mosiman made his way to 12th and tried to advance to 11th on the final lap, but was caught up in another crash and finished 15th.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team will be back in action next weekend for Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Series at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on January 18.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“Even though the results don’t show it on paper, it was a great first round for the team. All three guys qualified well, giving us some good gate picks. Haiden was fast all day and won his heat race. Unfortunately, he crashed after the start of the main and had to come from way back, but he kept fighting and finished fifth. So it was not what we were hoping for, but a good result and some good points.
“We’re really proud of Cole. He got the holeshot and finished second behind Haiden in the heat race, which was great. Unfortunately, it was just a crazy main event. Cole and Michael also crashed after the start and had to come from the back. Cole finished eighth in his first pro race and showed the speed to run up front, and it was a good first race back for Michael, just some bad luck. We’ll get back to work this week and come back stronger in San Diego.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“It was a solid first round and a lot better than last year. We got a top-five and are not sitting 16th. I’m not super happy that we biffed it on the start, but that’s racing. It happens. All we can do is go back to work and come back swinging next week.”
Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #100
“My pro debut at Anaheim 1 was a positive day. I learned a lot of race craft and felt good on the bike. I ended up sixth in qualifying and got second in the heat, but I went down on the first lap of the main and came from last to eighth. It’s time to build off that and get ready for San Diego!”
Michael Mosiman – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #93
“It was quite a day. I think in the main event, we were all bouncing off of each other, and I got the wrong end of the stick. The start was tight. It kind of just spits you out and puts everyone together, and then you have everyone trying to jump and get to the front. It was carnage, but we got through it. I think I have good speed and have a lot to offer, it’s just a matter of putting it all together. I haven’t raced in a while, so it’s going to take a little bit of time, but I’m just excited to build from here.”
450
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 450SX Main Event on a wild night of racing at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener in Anaheim, California. Justin Cooper joined them in the top 10, finishing seventh as the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship got underway in front of a packed house for Anaheim 1 Supercross at Angel Stadium.
Webb continued to make progress throughout the day, qualifying eighth and finishing fourth in his heat race. In ninth after the start of the main event, the North Carolina rider once again showed grit and determination, fighting his way to fourth before the halfway mark. Webb kept pushing throughout the race and had the final podium position within sight. Although he finished just shy of the podium in fourth, he scored valuable points at the first round of the 17-round 450SX title fight.
Tomac started the season opener strong, topping both qualifying sessions to earn the fastest qualifier honors in the 450 class. Although he didn’t get the start he was looking for in his heat race, he showed speed and fought his way from 10th to a fifth-place finish. In the main event, he got a much better start and quickly claimed the lead, but unfortunately lost the front on the opening lap and rejoined towards the back. Tomac quickly went to work and made his way through the field, ultimately making a pass for fifth on the final lap.
Cooper qualified 12th in the tricky conditions and showed strength in the night show with two great starts. The New Yorker led the opening lap of his heat race and ultimately finished third. In the main event, he got another great start, but unfortunately was shuffled back to fifth early and then to 10th before the halfway point as riders jockeyed for position. Undeterred, Cooper continued to fight and made his way back to seventh for a strong beginning to his sophomore season in the premier class.
Next on the schedule for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad is Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Series at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on January 18.
Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“The weekend went well overall. Eli was strong all day and unfortunately went down while leading the race, but put in a strong ride to come back to fifth. Webb got better as the day went on, just missing the podium, but he showed his late-race speed and grit in the main. Justin put himself in a great position with good starts and learned a lot about racing up front. It was a great team effort, and we’re looking forward to San Diego.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Anaheim 1 is always a crazy race. It was an up-and-down day and an up-and-down off-season, but I’m happy. That was a good race. Obviously, being in the top five is important, but I wanted to be on the podium and felt like I was riding good enough to be up front. We need to get our starts a little bit better and be in the mix for next week. It was definitely a good starting point. We’re right in the fight, which is great.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was a night of a lot of emotions. We put ourselves in a great position there right at the start of the main event and made it to the lead off the triple. It was a pretty cool feeling, and then two turns later, I ended up washing the front. It’s a mistake that just happens, so it’s very frustrating to do that on the first lap because it usually puts you in last. I just had to recover, make my way forward, and make as many passes as I could. I was actually happy to get to fifth. That was important for us with the points, especially since we were nearly last at one point. Other than that, it was a very good day. I had a good qualifying and had good speed, so I’m excited to get the season going.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a good night. I had two good starts. In the heat race, I was able to lead for a lap and had a good finish there to set me up for a good gate pick in the main. Then I got another really good start, but got shuffled back pretty quickly to fourth or fifth. I was in a pretty intense battle out there and kind of lost the flow. I had to be aggressive – attacking while being defensive with the guys behind me – which ended up costing me. So there was a little bit of a slump in the middle, but I was able to finish strong and come away with seventh. It was a good start to the season, and I’m looking to keep it going.”
Image: @empiresportsphotos – Chris Schulte
