Deacon Denno: From Injury Setbacks to Triumph Factory Rider
Hey everyone, it’s Paige Turner with BlueMoto — and let me tell you, this next rider has me seriously fired up!
Deacon Denno is an 18-year-old phenom from Malakoff, Texas, right outside Fort Worth. Born on April 19, 2008, he’s been ripping up the dirt for about eight years and has exploded onto the scene as one of the most exciting young talents in American motocross and supercross right now.
Family has been his rock the whole way. His very first dirt bike was a KTM 50 SX, and none other than Ryan Dungey helped hand it to him at a local dealership during an Arlington Supercross signing. Deacon always lights up when he talks about how his mom and dad have supported him through every single battle.
He kicked things off on the small bikes with a quiet debut at Loretta Lynn’s — around 38th in the 65cc class — but he kept grinding. In 2023, he battled back from a broken femur to capture the Supermini 1 national championship. That fire was just getting started.
Injuries tried to slow him down, but they couldn’t break him. A tough wrist injury in 2023 healed at the wrong angle and caused nerve issues that made his hand go numb during motos. Then in 2024, he missed Loretta Lynn’s completely after breaking his tibia and fibula at Spring-a-Ding. After surgery and serious recovery work, he came back stronger and more determined than ever.
And boy, did it show in 2025 riding for the KTM Orange Brigade Elite team! At Loretta Lynn’s he absolutely dominated, winning the 250 B class with killer moto scores of 2-1-1 and taking the Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C title with 1-2-2 finishes. He also ripped the fastest lap time of the entire event and earned the prestigious AMA Amateur Rider of the Year award. What a statement!
Hot off that massive breakout, in early September 2025, Deacon signed a three-year contract with Triumph Racing America. He spent 2026 tearing it up in the SMX Next series on the Triumph TF 250-X as he prepares to make the jump into the pro ranks.
What I love about Deacon is his lightning-fast starts, super smart racecraft, and that ice-cold composure under pressure. He puts in serious work both on and off the bike and has been soaking up knowledge from top pros and coaches. At just 18, he’s already incredibly mature, focused, and level-headed. When he’s not pinning it on the track, you might catch him thinking about golf or even real estate.
From early challenges and painful injury comebacks to stacking national titles and landing a factory ride with Triumph — Deacon Denno is the real deal. This kid is a legitimate rising star with a massive future ahead in professional motocross and supercross. I can’t wait to watch him keep climbing!
This is Paige Turner reporting — gates are dropping soon, and I’ll be right here catching every roost-filled moment. 🏁