Haiden Deegan Reflects on Training with Eli Tomac as He Prepares for 450 Move and Eli’s Final Season
As the motocross world turns its attention toward a new era, 18-year-old phenom Haiden Deegan is reflecting on the lessons and legacy of one of the sport’s greatest. With his promotion to the 450 class on the horizon and his mentor Eli Tomac set to retire at the end of the 2025 season, Deegan opened up about how training with Tomac has molded him into the rider — and man — he is today.
“Eli didn’t just teach me how to ride faster. He taught me how to think like a champion,” Deegan told reporters during a media session at Yamaha’s training facility. “Working with him changed everything — my mindset, my work ethic, my understanding of what it takes to be great.”
Deegan, already a fan favorite with a bold riding style and a social media presence as massive as his whip scrubs, admitted that entering the Yamaha system and being paired with a legend like Tomac was both intimidating and transformative.
“When I got the call that I’d be training alongside Eli, I was hyped — but I also knew I had to earn it,” Deegan said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If you’re off your game, he’ll let you know. But if you’re grinding, he’s the first one in your corner.”
Passing the Torch
As Tomac, a multi-time Supercross and Motocross champion, prepares to hang up the boots, his impact on the next generation is undeniable. Deegan, widely considered Yamaha’s next great hope, credits his rapid rise in the 250 class — including a breakout win at the 2024 MX Nationals — to the daily grind he shared with Tomac.
“I’d show up to the track thinking I was early, and he was already five motos in,” Deegan recalled with a laugh. “That’s the level. That’s what greatness looks like. I watched, I learned, and I worked to match that energy.”
Tomac, for his part, has spoken highly of Deegan, calling him “the future” and praising his natural ability and toughness under pressure. As the two continue to train through the season, fans are watching the symbolic passing of the torch in real time — a generational shift from a veteran legend to a new superstar in the making.
Ready for the Big Show
With the 450 debut just months away, Deegan is clear-eyed and focused, calling it “the biggest challenge of my life — and the one I’ve been preparing for every day with Eli.”
“I’m not stepping up just to show up. I want to win. I want to dominate. And with what Eli’s taught me — mentally and physically — I know I’ve got the blueprint.”
As Eli Tomac enters the twilight of his career, and Haiden Deegan begins his ascent into motocross’s elite tier, one thing is certain: the bond forged between mentor and protégé at Yamaha may shape the sport’s future long after the final checkered flag of 2025.
