UPDATE: Incredibly, Coty Schock returned to the track five days after his surgery and posted the 11th fastest time in Group A, Qualification 1. Schock posted the 10th fastest time in combined 250 qualification and moved directly into the evening program.
In the final turn of the 250 East Main at Progressive Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, Haiden Deegan overrode the corner and shouldered Coty Schock out of seventh-place, sending Schock into the Tuff Blox and to the ground.
The awkward landing further exacerbated an injury from earlier in the season and broke Schock’s collarbone. Schock will undergo surgery later in the week and there is no scheduled date for his return, which will put an end to a Cinderella Season that had him tied for fourth with Deegan in the 250 East championship standings at the end of the Birmingham round.
Replays of the incident show Deegan had no hope of completing the turn without broadsiding Schock.
Last lap drama 🍿 #SupercrossLIVE #SMX pic.twitter.com/oyESOhy9F6
— Supercross LIVE! (@SupercrossLIVE) March 10, 2024
Schock was having an incredible run for a team that lacks full factory backing. He finished fourth in the season opener in Detroit, eight in Arlington and sixth in Daytona.
Schock entered Birmingham just one point behind Deegan and only four points behind the leader Max Anstie, as the field entered the Birmingham round.
MORE: Haiden Deegan receives code conduct for Seth Hammaker incident
Earlier in the Birmingham program, Schock earned his first 250 heat win in the same race that witnessed Deegan also crashing with Seth Hammaker when those two riders ran out of room in Turn 1. Deegan finished 17th with a damaged bike and was forced to make his way into the Main via the Last Chance Qualifier — the first time Deegan has ever had to do so.
In the Main, Deegan got a poor start and was ridden off track. He did not slow down and was penalized two positions for gaining an advantage while off track on the first lap, which meant that ultimately, he was not racing Schock for position.
MORE: Hunter Lawrence defends Haiden Deegan for controversial 2023 pass
Schock was credited with eighth despite the crash. Deegan officially finished ninth. They left the track tied for fourth in the standings.
“I knew he was there and even knew that he would try to make an aggressive pass,” Schock said after the race in a release. “There was plenty of room and really no need to blast a fellow Yamaha rider off the track. I just wasn’t expecting that for seventh place. A wise man told me,18-year-olds will do what 18-year-olds will do. I chalk it up to a racing incident and I will learn from it and move on.”
On Sunday, Schock provided an update on Instagram.
“Daytona had put like a hairline fracture on my collarbone,” Schock said. “It was healing and last night, the whole incident I had in the Main Even solidified everything fully broke the collarbone. It’s laying on top of each other now. It sucks, but I’m here in Southern California looking to get surgery [Monday] and start the recovery process. Don’t know when I will be back, but I have to thank the whole ClubMX crew for sticking behind me and believing in me.”
Saturday night on Instagram, Deegan wrote: “Night didn’t go as planned, I will always ride with heart, I’m sorry the emotions got the best of me tonight, now back to work I’ll see you in Indy!”
More Supercross News
5 things to watch for in Indianapolis
Jett Lawrence extends points lead with Birmingham win
Colt Nichols returns with a top-10 on his mind
Hunter Lawrence out of Birmingham with scapula injury
Paige Craig updates Christian’s condition on social media
Birmingham by the Numbers
Hannah Hodges wins first relaunched WMX race
Jett Lawrence is Jett Lawrence’s biggest competition
Daytona by the Numbers
Austin Forkner suffers spine and scapula injuries | Provides emotional update
