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Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team photo

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing is ready to launch its 250 title campaign with a talented seven-rider line-up. Reigning Pro Motocross 250MX Champion and back-to-back 250SMX Champion Haiden Deegan is joined by returning members Daxton Bennick and Nate Thrasher. Pierce Brown will make his debut with the team in 2025, while Max Anstie and Michael Mosiman embark on their first full year aboard the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ250F. The young Cole Davies also returns for his first full season with the team and will be making his pro debut. Christian Craig, the team’s 2022 250SX West Champion, returns home in 2025 to race the YZ450F and to help the team with the development of their 250 riders. The team also has a talented three-rider effort for its amateur program with Caden Dudney, Kayden Minear, and Carson Wood.

Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur Bobby Reagan, Star Racing built a reputation as one of the top privateer teams in the sport of Supercross and Motocross. In 2005, that reputation ultimately secured the support of Factory Yamaha.

Together with Yamaha’s superior YZ250F, Star Racing is one of the most sought-after teams for the sport’s top up-and-coming riders. The team has a history of success, claiming 17 support class titles in the professional ranks, including eight Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250 divisional championships, a WMX title and six 250MX Championships in Pro Motocross, and back-to-back 250SMX titles. 

In 2014 and 2015, Jeremy Martin earned back-to-back AMA 250MX Championships. The team’s success continued with Cooper Webb, who took home back-to-back Monster Energy Supercross 250SX West titles for the team in 2015 and 2016, as well as the 2016 250MX Championship. Aaron Plessinger had a standout season in 2018 as the Ohio native won the 250SX West Championship and the AMA 250MX Championship. Dylan Ferrandis carried on that winning momentum and took home back-to-back 250SX West Championships in 2019 and 2020, and was also crowned the 2020 250MX AMA Pro Motocross Champion.

In 2021, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad became the first team in nearly a decade to claim both 250 class titles in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, with Justin Cooper taking the 250SX West Championship and Colt Nichols the 250SX East Championship. The following year, Christian Craig kept the team’s title streak rolling by securing the 2022 250SX West Championship at the season finale in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2023 marked the arrival of Haiden Deegan to the pro ranks, and the 17-year-old rookie enjoyed success from the start, securing the 250SMX title in a thrilling final round at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 2024, Deegan’s meteoric rise continued its upward trend with a stellar sophomore season. After earning a runner-up finish in the 250SX East Championship, he went on to secure the Pro Motocross 250MX Championship a weekend early with an impressive tally of 10 moto wins and 18 podiums. In the postseason, he continued to set the bar for the competition, winning five out of six motos en route to claiming his second-consecutive 250SMX Championship.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team would like to thank its partners for their support: Monster Energy, Yamaha Racing, Yamaha Financial Services (YMFUS), Yamalube, GYTR, bLU cRU, Thor, Parts Unlimited, Alpinestars, FMF, Dunlop, KYB, Rekluse, VP Racing Fuels, Cycra, Kite, Twin Air, Light Speed, ARC Levers, Mechanix Wear, Boxo Tools, CWI, D’cor Graphics, Vortex ECU, Braking, Matrix Concepts, Pro Taper, G2 Ergonomics, DID, AFAM, Mettec, and Works Connection.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Sponsors
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Sponsors
Deegan banner

Haiden Deegan #1 & #38

Reigning Pro Motocross 250MX and back-to-back SuperMotocross World 250SMX Champion Haiden Deegan heads into his fourth season with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing looking to add more number-one plates to his collection. At a young age, the Californian was already one of the most prominent riders in the sport, gaining a huge following on social media with the popular YouTube series – The Deegans. In addition to his engaging personality off-track, the teenager continues to impress on track with a host of milestones and three 250 class titles.

Deegan signed with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as an amateur in the Fall of 2021. He immediately found success with the team in the amateur ranks, adding more national titles to his resume. Deegan made his pro debut in 2022 at the penultimate round of the Pro Motocross Championship at Ironman Raceway. He showed speed straight away and earned a top-10 finish despite scorching conditions at the season finale in Pala, California.

Making his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut at the 2023 Eastern Regional season opener in Houston, Texas, Deegan hit the ground running. He ended the year runner-up in the 250SX East Championship and was named 250 Rookie of the Year. It was an impressive debut season for the young rider, who never finished outside of the top 10 and earned six top-five finishes, including three podiums. That success carried over into the Pro Motocross Championship as Deegan continued to add more milestones to his checklist and was a title contender. He ultimately finished the season fourth in the 250MX points standings with three moto wins and two overall victories, and was also awarded Rookie of the Year honors for his stellar achievements.

Deegan finished his 2023 season in style with the 250SMX Championship. He once again was a title contender from the start of the three-round playoff series and sealed the deal in front of the home crowd in a thrilling down-to-the-wire title fight at the SMX Finals at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Despite being less than 100% coming off of a preseason injury, the Deegan earned a runner-up finish in the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship with three wins and a total of five podiums. From there, it was Deegan domination as the 18-year-old claimed the Pro Motocross 250MX Championship a weekend early with an impressive tally of 10 moto wins and 18 podiums. In the postseason, the Californian continued to set the bar for the competition, winning five out of six motos en route to claiming his second-consecutive 250SMX Championship. Not resting on his laurels, Deegan has been hard at work during the off-season and has his sights set on adding more titles and victories to his already impressive resume.

Age:
19
Place of Birth:
Temecula, California
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5'8
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
BMX, Skating and Shoes
Brown banner

Pierce Brown #20

The team’s newest recruit, Pierce Brown, is looking forward to making his debut with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing in 2025. The talented rider from Sandy, Utah, has shown speed in the 250 class and is fresh off of his first 250SMX victory, which he earned at the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Finals in Las Vegas. Riding that momentum, Brown looks to battle for top honors aboard the YZ250F in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross, and the SMX World Championship.

Age:
23
Place of Birth:
Sandy, Utah
Nationality:
United States
Height:
6 ft
Weight:
160 lbs.
Hobbies:
Golf
Anstie banner

Max Anstie #31

With some time getting acquainted with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team and the bike in the latter half of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship, Max Anstie is primed for the 2025 season. He made his pro debut in Monster Energy AMA Supercross with the team back in 2010 and brings with him a wealth of experience. The British rider has enjoyed success in multiple championships overseas and has shown strength over the past two seasons with a pair of wins in the 250SX East Championship. Anstie reunited with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team this year at the Southwick National. He went on to finish the outdoor season and race in the SMX Finals, as well as race the Motocross of Nations for his home country and the first round of WSX. Anstie is eager to kick off the 2025 SMX World Championship and sets his sights on taking top honors aboard the YZ250F.

Age:
32
Place of Birth:
Newbury, England
Nationality:
United Kingdom
Height:
5’10”
Weight:
165 lbs
Hobbies:
I used to say golf, but now that I have the little guy, it’s spending time with him and tailoring things to what he wants to do, like riding his bike or playing football
Bennick banner

Daxton Bennick #34

Daxton Bennick joined Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s amateur program in the Fall of 2022. In 2023, he found early success and turned a lot of heads after winning the opening round of Supercross Futures at Anaheim 2. The young rider from Morganton, North Carolina, backed that up with a win at the following round in Arlington, Texas, and was a strong title contender throughout the season.

Bennick then made his Pro Motocross debut at RedBud that season, where he earned the fastest qualifying honors in the 250 class and a pair of top-10 moto finishes. He raced two more rounds with solid results before switching gears back to the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Bennick enjoyed a stellar finish to his amateur career, dominating the Open Pro Class with three victories to secure the number-one plate. He was also awarded the coveted Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award. The North Carolina rider returned to the Pro Motocross Championship at Unadilla and earned a career-best moto finish in fourth place at Budds Creek.

In 2024, Bennick also had an impressive debut in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, scoring a podium finish at the opening round in Detroit and ultimately finishing the year inside the top 10 in points. Unfortunately, it was a tough outdoor season as he was dealing with health issues and ultimately sat out of the SMX World Championship post-season to focus on returning to 100%. Back to full fitness, Bennick is looking to build off his rookie season and return to the top.

Age:
19
Place of Birth:
Morganton, North Carolina
Nationality:
United States
Height:
6'
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
BMX pump track, snowboarding and wake surfing
Thrasher banner

Nate Thrasher #41

Nate Thrasher returns for his fifth year with the team and is eager to get back on track. He joined Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing in the Fall of 2020 and raced the final two rounds of the Pro Motocross 250MX Championship. The young rider from Livingston, Tennessee, made his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut in 2021 and turned a lot of heads by scoring two convincing 250SX wins on a very physically demanding track at the Atlanta Motor Speedway tripleheader. He ultimately ended the season seventh in the points standings.

2022 was a building year for Thrasher as he continued to make forward progress. He ended the Supercross season on a high note, winning the East-West 250 Showdown at the final round in Salt Lake City, Utah, securing a top-five finish in the 250SX West points standings.

Despite a tough start to the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, Thrasher was a title contender. He returned to the top step of the podium at the Arlington Supercross and notched a total of four podiums before a big crash at the Atlanta Supercross sidelined him for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, 2024 was another tough season with injuries, but once again, Thrasher showed speed and scored his fifth-career 250SX win at the San Diego Supercross. Back to full fitness in 2025, Thrasher has experience on both coasts and is hungrier than ever.

Age:
23
Place of Birth:
Livingston, Tennessee
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5' 9
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
Playing golf, going to the lake, watching American football, and playing Xbox
Mosiman banner

Michael Mosiman #93

Michael Mosiman is another rider who will enter his first full season with the team in 2025. The Californian has shown the pace to run up front and has a 250SX win to his resume, standing on top of the box at the 2022 San Diego Supercross. This year, he made his racing debut with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing at Seattle Supercross and was able to get some gate drops before unfortunately injuring his neck while training for the Pro Motocross season opener. Back to 100%, Mosiman is reenergized and ready for battle.

Age:
26
Place of Birth:
Sebastopol, California
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5’11”
Weight:
156 lbs
Hobbies:
Chess, mountain biking, traveling, learning new things or different cultures, and investing.
Davies banner

Cole Davies #100

Cole Davies returns in 2025 for his first full season with the team and will move up to the pro ranks, starting with the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The young New Zealand rider made his U.S. debut in 2023 and turned a lot of heads this year. He won the opening qualifying round of Supercross Futures at Anaheim 2 and secured his second 250SX Futures victory at the championship-deciding round in Salt Lake City. The 2024 Supercross Futures AMA National Champion made his debut with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team at the Moto Scouting Combine at RedBud. Davies went on to finish the season in style, taking the final Moto Scouting Combine overall win at Ironman Raceway and scoring a commanding 250 World All-Stars victory at the SMX World Championship Finals in Las Vegas. The 17-year-old has been putting in the work during the off-season and is eager to make his pro debut. 

Age:
18
Place of Birth:
Aukland, New Zealand
Nationality:
New Zealand
Height:
5’8”
Weight:
143 lbs
Hobbies:
Mountain biking and golf.
Craig banner

Christian Craig #28

One of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s former champions, Christian Craig returns in 2025 to race the premier class aboard the potent YZ450F in the SuperMotocross World Championship.

In 2021, Craig kicked off his debut with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing with a win at the 250SX East season opener in Houston, Texas. During his two-year tenure with the team, the Californian went on to add another five victories to his tally and a total of nine podiums aboard the YZ250F in Supercross. For the outdoor season in 2021 and 2022, Craig shifted gears to the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship aboard the YZ450F and secured five moto podiums in 2022 to earn a top-five finish in the point standings.

Although he is still working on returning to full fitness from a knee injury sustained at the end of the 2024 season, Craig is feeling quite at home with the team and is eager to get back on track battling for top honors in 2025. In addition to racing, he will also be helping the team with the development of their 250 riders.

Age:
34
Place of Birth:
San Diego, California
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5’10”
Weight:
170 lbs
Hobbies:
Spending time with my family.

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For those that dream in blue - this one is for you. bLU cRU membership is now open to ALL registered Yamaha owners and comes with exclusive free welcome merchandise, training opportunities, special events and more. Racers will receive the same benefits plus contingency through the bLU cRU program.