Tensions Rise in Yamaha Star Racing Pits
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team faces internal friction following a volatile conclusion to Round 2 of the SMX World Championship Playoffs in Los Angeles. A late-race collision between teammates Cooper Webb and Haiden Deegan has escalated from an on-track dispute into a public rivalry, with Webb openly declaring his intent to impede Deegan’s championship ambitions at the upcoming series finale.
The conflict originated during the second 450 main event. According to reporting by VurbMoto, the incident occurred as the riders navigated the track’s sand section. Deegan, who had previously gone down in the section, executed a maneuver that cut across Webb’s line. While contact was made and resulted in Webb going down, analysts suggest the move was less about a traditional “T-bone” and more about a lack of patience between training partners.
A ‘Powder Keg’ of Professional Respect
Jason Thomas, writing for Racer X Online, characterizes the relationship between the two as a “powder keg” fueled by Deegan’s aggressive, often boisterous approach to racing. Because the two riders share training time and team resources, the expectation of professional courtesy is significantly higher than with outside competitors.
Webb, visibly frustrated after the race, did not mince words regarding his teammate’s conduct. “We are teammates, we are buddies, we are training partners and I am all for aggressive racing,” Webb stated during the post-race broadcast. “He has no respect for anybody else. I’m bummed. It will be an interesting week.”
The Fallout and the Finale
The tension reportedly migrated from the track to the team’s hauler, where witnesses heard shouting match dynamics. The core of the disagreement remains private, though observers suggest that a lack of acknowledgment or apology from Deegan likely served as the primary catalyst for the post-race confrontation. With the SMX finale approaching, the team now faces the challenge of managing two high-profile riders with fundamentally conflicting interests. Webb’s vow to block Deegan’s title path signals that the final round will be defined as much by internal team dynamics as by the competition against external rivals.