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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1526959
GasGas team ends on a high note, as he's expected to join the Star Racing Yamaha operation in 2025. "It just feels like a monkey off my back," said Brown. "Obvi- ously, it's been a goal for a while, and now it's expected. It's crazy what a start can do. I feel like nothing's really changed speed-wise. I've been putting in the work, week in and week and padding his chances for an overall podium. Brown started up front again in race two and passed early leader Ty Master- pool. Now in first, Brown slot- ted himself in position to take the night's overall win with 2-1 scores. This marked his first professional win, launching him to third in the SMX points with a $150,000 bonus. Fur - ther, Brown's time with the TLD 250SMX Haiden Deegan showed why he is the man to beat in the 250 class. The points leader and reigning champion qualified first in both practice sessions before dominating the opening moto, continuing his win streak and all but securing the title. Despite a poor start in race two, Deegan still managed to find his way to second and played it smart with the championship in mind: 1-2 scores put him second on the day, but first in the 250SMX points. Like Lawrence, Deegan is now a back-to-back Super - Motocross Champion, and he cashed in a half-million-dollar payday. "I actually had a good start, but I let off too early and got pinched off, so it was kind of my fault," Deegan said of the sec - ond moto. "From there, I had to lock in and get my lines dialed. I started making some passes, made my way up to third and then Tom [Vialle] went down, so I was into second. Then I tried to put a charge on and catch Pierce [Brown], but he was riding so good. It just wasn't worth the risk. I saw four laps to go, and I just thought, 'The championship sounds really nice right now. I don't want to do something stupid.' Just had to ride it in." While Deegan won the war, Pierce Brown won the battle of the night. The Troy Lee Designs / Red Bull GasGas rider finally started up front and stayed close with Deegan in the open - ing laps of race one before taking a strong second place ROUND 3 / SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY / LAS VEGAS, NEVADA SUPERMOTOCROSS I MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP P76 Pierce Brown collected his first overall win of his career.