Jett Lawrence unbothered by Deegan Pala challenge: 'My focus is the championship'
19:25, 27 May
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Andrew McLarneyMotoGP Reporter
Andrew McLarney is a MotoGP reporter for GPBlog. With three years as a professional writer across the sports and video game industries, his early passion for combat sports evolved into a deep interest in UFC and eventually motorsport — with MotoGP becoming his primary focus. On top of that he is also an avid follower of MXGP and AMA Supercross as well as F1 and GT racing.
Jett Lawrence is set to return to action this weekend in Pala, California as the 2026 AMA Motocross season kicks off. However, that's not the only story as Haiden Deegan also debuts in the 450 class.
The head-to-head duel which so many have anticipated over the years is finally going to take place at the opening round of this year's AMA Pro Motocross season, though the respective combatants appear to have a very different mentality heading into the battle.
Lawrence, who is still recovering from a brutal leg injury which saw him sidelined for the entire 2026 SX season, is seemingly coming into the matchup with no pressure on himself, and is looking at the bigger picture overall.
My body and health is more important than winning a one race at the start of the season.- Jett Lawrence
At just 22 years of age, Jett is already regarded as one of the best to ever do it and a phenomenal supertalent the likes of which haven't been seen for many years in the sport. However, the extent of his injuries are no joke, as he detailed to NBC Sports:
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"It's been a interesting and and very painful process, missing having a fully healthy ankle and not waking up in the morning with a stiff ankle. Until I get my full range of motion back, I think it's going to be still a year or so. If I can just get it where it's no pain, I think I'll be okay."
"Dislocated my ankle and my tibia, smashed the top of my talus, and that was what really broke my talus into three. Ended up getting 11 screws and four pins. having to go in for a second surgery and get a screw taken out and also one of the fragments rose up and then healed like that and my tibia was hitting that. So, we need to get that shaved down because I wouldn't have been able to ride if I had that."
![Jett Lawrence celebrates victory in Pala, 2025 [Photo: Red Bull Content Pool]](https://r.testifier.nl/Acbs8526SDKI/resizing_type:fit/width:1280/plain/https://s3-newsifier.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/gpblog.com/images/2026-05/jett-lawrence-crash-6a16f36460f06.jpg@webp)
Jett Lawrence celebrates victory in Pala, 2025 [Photo: Red Bull Content Pool]
"You got to have that strength in that joint throughout, kind of be light a little bit with your feet, and riding lately obviously my left leg's taking most of the loads: landing, braking with my right foot's still difficult cuz I don't have that full range downwards."
"So little things like that where it's like you just wish it could speed up a little bit, but I just want to be there for outdoors cuz I know if I can start with them, even if I don't win the first one, all my mind is going towards is a champion."
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"There's another side where I really badly want to win the first round because it's Pala, I've never lost there overall-wise. But my body and health is more important than winning a one race at the start of the season."
Deegan's Perspective
Arguably one of the biggest threats to Lawrence's crown may come in the form of Haiden Deegan. The six-time 250cc champion is moving up to the 450 class for his official debut in Pala, and hasn't been shy about setting the champion in his sights:
"The way I look at, the way Jett present himself is that no one is better than him - no one can beat him. So, the way I look at is, what if this rookie can beat Jett? What are they gonna do now?" he said on his popular YouTube channel, The Deegans.
"That's the way I'm looking at it. That's what I'm working towards, and no matter what he's going through, he should go win. He should beat me. So, it should be a problem for him. So, we'll see."
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![Deegan won a total of six titles across SX and MX in the 250 class. [Photo: Red Bull Content Pool]](https://r.testifier.nl/Acbs8526SDKI/resizing_type:fit/width:1280/plain/https://s3-newsifier.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/gpblog.com/images/2026-05/deegan-ama-smx-6a16f32ebe0a9.jpg@webp)
Deegan won a total of six titles across SX and MX in the 250 class. [Photo: Red Bull Content Pool]
Speaking with veterans Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villapotto, 'Danger Boy' also reiterated his intentions to create a rivalry and challenge Lawrence head-on for the crown, starting in Pala this week:
"I feel like California is definitely the home ground. So, go toback there, it's almost like a comfortable feeling going back to California knowing that that's where I'm from and where I grew up at that track. Even though the Nationals it's a whole different realm to what you practice on. I don't know, hometown crowd, hometown track, it's a hardpack style which I thrive in."
As for challenging the established riders in the category, Deegan certainly embraces the challenge and is looking to make his mark from the very opening race:
"I'm excited to race everyone. Come on, let's get it. I'm ready to battle. You know me, I'm ready to go to war for it. Obviously the media and the people portray this rivalry [with Jett Lawrence] and, I'm about it. Let's get it. I'm working my butt off, waking up in the morning, grinding. It's all I can do right now so I can come to the first round saying I did everything I can, now let's see what I've got."
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