Why the Fastest Lap Won’t Win the Race

Why the Fastest Lap Won’t Win the Race – And What Haiden Deegan Is Quietly Teaching the Field

We’re now into the U.S. Pro Nationals, and the opening round at Fox Raceway, California, didn’t disappoint.

Both classes were stacked, but as always, I turn my real focus to the 250 class.

Younger, less experienced riders fighting for podium honours.

More heart. More chaos. More raw lessons.

It’s the class where emotion and pressure collide — and where you can learn the most if you know what to look for.

In a class this deep, talent isn’t the issue.

Everyone can run a fast lap.

Everyone can throw down in qualifying.

But winning a Moto — and then backing it up for the overall?

That’s something else entirely.

And if you’ve been watching closely — really watching — Haiden Deegan has been giving the rest of the field a masterclass in something far more advanced than raw speed.

He’s showing them how to win races.

Let’s break it down — not through hype or surface-level commentary, but through actual data, performance patterns, and race psychology across both Motos.

*For those of you who prefer to listen, I’ve had this blog narrated and the YouTube link can be found at the bottom of this blog page.

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Mental Composure > Early Speed

Deegan didn’t lead early in either Moto.

In fact, he spent the opening laps waiting.

• In Moto 1, he started 5th, hovered around 3rd–4th, and only made his move around the halfway point.

• In Moto 2, he sat in 3rd for a full 5 laps while Beaumer led and Vialle tried to hold pace.

Why does that matter?

Because what most riders can’t see in the moment is that leading a race comes at a cost — especially if you can’t check out.

If the riders behind are within striking distance, you’re no longer racing the track — you’re racing backwards.

You start defending. You lose flow using defensive lines. You tighten up. You stop learning.

Meanwhile, the rider in 2nd or 3rd is back there studying your every move, seeing where you brake early, drift wide, or get caught in chop.

That’s exactly what Deegan does.

He waits, watches, and picks you apart — lap after lap.

And when he passes, he doesn’t just roll by — he sprints.

He gaps you.

That’s more than racecraft — it’s psychological warfare.

As David Goggins would put it, Deegan is using the “Take Their Soul” strategy.

“You think you’ve got me… and then I pass you and break you.”

That’s the mindset. That’s Deegan.

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What Happens When You Can’t Break Away

Take Julien Beaumer for example.

He’s fast — that much is clear. He grabbed a great start in Moto 1 & 2 and led the opening 6 laps of Moto 2.

But here’s what happened:

• While Deegan and Shimoda were still hitting 2:20s in the back half of Moto 2,

• Beaumer’s laps slipped into the 2:23–2:25 range.

He couldn’t escape. And when you’re leading but not pulling away, you’re just putting a spotlight on your weaknesses.

Deegan had already studied him. So when he made the move, he went straight through — no scrapping, no hesitation.

He was already gone.

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The Real Skill: Pace Management and Attack Timing

Shimoda posted the fastest lap of Moto 2 — a 2:19.931.

Marchbanks, Hymas, Beaumer — all ran lap times fast enough to win.

But fast laps don’t win races.

Race pace does.

Deegan’s lap string was a masterclass in controlled intensity:

Moto 2 laps 4 to 12:

[2:20.5], [2:20.9], [2:20.7], [2:21.7], [2:20.1], [2:22.2], [2:22.0], [2:23.0]

Not only did he manage his race perfectly — he actually sped up after making the pass.

That’s not just fitness — that’s clarity and conviction.

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Rider-by-Rider Insights – What Each Could Look To Refine

Haiden Deegan

• Strength: Patience, race IQ, strategy execution

• Key Insight: He’s not trying to prove anything anymore. He’s just trying to win.

• Style: He lets others burn themselves out — then takes their soul with a clean pass and sprint. Goggins-style.

Julien Beaumer

• Issue: Early race ego. He’s trying to prove he’s fast instead of executing a full race strategy.

• Insight: Deegan lives in his head. Their beef is still there, and it’s showing up in how early he pushes.

• Fix: Learn to race the full moto — not just the opening five laps. It’s about pacing and composure, not proving a point.

Chance Hymas

• Issue: Can’t hold the mental line when under pressure.

• Insight: Crashed while leading with Deegan closing in. The weight of being fastest qualifier may have added internal pressure.

• Fix: Practice getting hunted. Put him in mock races where a faster rider is chasing. He needs to normalise pressure.

Jo Shimoda

• Issue: Slight hesitation in the middle phase of the race.

• Insight: Possibly haunted by past crashes. He’s riding with a limiter when he should be attacking.

• Fix: Rebuild conviction. Trust the speed again and time the attack more aggressively once the opportunity arises.

Tom Vialle

• Issue: Doesn’t look fully confident or free in U.S. races.

• Insight: You can still see the GP instinct — the technical skill, the race efficiency — but something’s holding him back. Under pressure, he tightens. He’s not attacking. He’s reacting.

• Fix: This isn’t a speed issue — it’s a conviction issue. Whether it’s internal belief, setup uncertainty, or the lingering pressure of “proving it” in America, Vialle needs to reset. An environmental shift or coaching support around confidence, clarity, and identity could unlock what’s already there.

Garrett Marchbanks

• Issue: Starts. He’s heavy for a 250 rider and it’s costing him early.

• Insight: Once he’s in the mix, his pace is elite.

• Fix: working on the starts and first laps crucial if Garrett is to show his true speed and potential

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Bigger Takeaway for Riders and Coaches

This isn’t just a Deegan breakdown — it’s a shift in how races are being won.

If you’re leading but can’t gap, you’re a target.

If you’re chasing and can’t close, you’re burning time.

It’s about:

• Reading the field

• Making surgical moves

• Trusting your fitness and mental plan

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Final Thought: The Ripple Effect

Deegan’s winning strategy could begin shaking the confidence of the field.

If these riders don’t figure out what’s happening soon, the gap won’t just be physical — it’ll be mental.

But…

If they can stop trying to “beat Deegan” and instead focus on executing their own race, there’s opportunity to flip the script.

The problem is — most don’t even see what they’re doing wrong.

That’s where the right coach, mentor, or analysis comes in.

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Beyond Coaching. This Is Race Intelligence.

This isn’t commentary.

It’s pattern recognition, race psychology, and program refinement for elite riders who want to stop guessing and start evolving.

If you’re trying to figure out how to go from fast rider to consistent winner — that’s where I step in.

I look at the data, the behaviour, the race story, and translate it into actual progress.

Because sometimes, the edge you need is right in front of you — it’s just not obvious.

Final note and disclaimer:

These insights are based purely on my personal analysis of the races, Sector & lap data, and rider behaviour on track, what can be seen on screen. Of course, there are always behind-the-scenes dynamics — bike setup, illness, team decisions — that may not be visible to anyone outside the camp. What I share here is based on what can be observed and measured, not speculation about private circumstances.

YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/iD-kkfA8grY?si=DKvRocl3i4nrHxv_