Adam Cianciarulo and Justin Brayton made it clear they respect Haiden Deegan’s talent and potential, stressing that they’ve said “95% positive things” about him. But when it came to his aggressive moves in Las Vegas, they felt he crossed a line.
Brayton admitted he understood Deegan’s frustration after being taken out by Levi Kitchen earlier in the playoffs, and he even respects the “win at all costs” mentality. He said there’s something admirable about an athlete willing to do whatever it takes. However, both agreed there must be an ethical limit.
“I thought it was over the line,” Brayton said, adding that Deegan is “too good for that.” They pointed out that while his earlier pass on Dax Bennick in Denver didn’t deserve a penalty, his repeated attempts on Jo Shimoda in Vegas looked more like intentional takeouts.
Cianciarulo went further, saying Deegan should have been black-flagged after “two or three shots,” noting that once it’s obvious a rider is trying to put another on the ground, it becomes a danger to both. They drew comparisons to NASCAR or Formula 1, where spinning someone out takes little skill but crosses a moral line.
In the end, both agreed Deegan’s determination is part of what makes him exciting, but his Vegas tactics made the race “look like a circus” and risked overshadowing his talent.
