Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Daxton Bennick kicks off rookie Monster Energy AMA Supercross season with a podium finish in Detroit!
Words: Star Racing Yamaha Press Release, Images: Supercross Live
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Daxton Bennick earned a third-place finish at last night’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East opening round at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a stellar start for the 18-year-old from North Carolina, who made a podium appearance at his first pro race in Supercross. Unfortunately, his teammates Nick Romano and Haiden Deegan got collected in a multi-rider pile-up at the start of the main event, with Romano charging back to 14th and Deegan to 16th despite damage to his bike from the crash.
Bennick had a strong start to the day, leading the way for the team in qualifying with seventh, and followed that up with a runner-up finish in his heat race. He got a good start in the main event and managed to avoid being collected in the pile-up going into the first turn. After the first lap, he was back in ninth but put his head down and made his way to third with around five laps remaining. Bennick rode on to secure a career-first podium finish, making for an impressive debut and a great start to the season with third in the point standings.
It was a strong debut for fellow rookie Romano, who was sidelined from racing for over a year. The New Yorker worked on finding his flow during the day and ended up qualifying 17th. The 18-year-old found his stride in the heat race and finished sixth. Unfortunately, it was a tough start to the main event after being collected in the multi-rider pile-up, which had him rejoining at the back of the field. Undeterred, Romano made his way to 14th in the challenging conditions.
Deegan started his sophomore season with a solid qualifying effort in eighth and then charged to a runner-up finish in his heat race. Like Romano, he was collected in the multi-rider first-turn crash in the main event. Unwilling to quit, the 2023 250SMX Champion rejoined the race and fought his way up to 16th despite a bent handlebar from the crash.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 West team returns next weekend for Round 5 of the 250SX West Championship and Round 6 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and the SuperMotocross World Series on February 10 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Racing resumes for the 250 East team on February 24 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager:
“The heat races went well. Dax was second, Haiden was second, and Nick qualified. So we were pumped going into the main. Everything was good, and then the main obviously didn’t start out so well. There was a big pile-up going into the first turn and took out like half the field, and we ended up having two guys on the ground – Haiden and Nick. Dax got a pretty good start though, and fought his way all the way up to third and ended up on the podium in his first race. So we’re super proud of Dax. He’s been putting in the work, and we’re happy to see that hard work pay off.
“Haiden’s handlebars got a little twisted up in that crash, but he didn’t quit and fought his way up to 16th. Romano had a solid first race. It’s tough to start dead last like that and get too far up, especially on this track tonight. So, all in all, it was a good night. We’re going to keep fighting for this championship.”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59:
“The day didn’t start very well, but we turned it around in the heat race. We came out with a good start and got second. For the main event, I knew it was going to be long, so I went in at a good pace. I started reeling in (Max) Anstie and thought maybe I was going to get second, but man, I’m happy with that. I can’t believe that in my rookie season, my first race, I got a podium. I’ve checked that box. I’m so pumped!”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511:
“That first supercross race was definitely wild. I struggled to find a flow in practice but was feeling more like myself in the heat race and finished sixth. I was feeling good going into the main, and then there was a brutal first-turn pile-up that I got caught up in. That’s racing. I’m definitely a little bruised up after that one. I’m just thankful that I was able to get up and do the laps. The night could’ve gone a little better, but I’m just happy to get a Supercross race under my belt after missing all of last year. I look forward to racing again in a few weeks in Texas.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38:
“With what I’ve dealt with these past few weeks, the day was actually pretty good. I was first in free practice, then the first qualifying was alright, and the second qualifying, I was on the board, so I was happy with that. In the heat race, we had plenty of speed. (Cameron) McAdoo and I were the fastest out of everyone, so I wasn’t worried about that. Then after the start of the main event, someone on the inside just sent it into everyone, and we all went cartwheeling. It happens. We got some points, and we didn’t quit. Now we’ve just got to go and tick off some wins and gain these points back.”
