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JOEY SAVATGY
Pro Circuit Kawasaki is a team synonymous with success of the highest order. The new decade has been an underwhelming venture by their heightened standards; Joey Savatgy is one of the many riders
Mitch Payton has put on assignment to bring the team back to it’s former glory. Savatgy has made steady improvements since joining the professional ranks in 2013 and earning his spot as the SX Rookie of the Year. In 2015, he was called upon by Payton to join the coveted Pro Circuit Race Team and he has really stepped up to the challenge and expectations of having a factory bike. Savatgy easily had the best outdoor season of his career so far last year, narrowly missing out on his first moto victory at Unadilla and Indiana (although he did win the overall at Unadilla with a 2-2). He’s coming off a stellar 250 West showdown with Cooper Webb, eventually losing out on the number one plate by just one point. He kept Webb honest all season long, taking advantage of Star Racing Yamaha mechanical failure to take the points lead in the middle of the season. Although Webb would be widely considered as the fastest guy in
the class, Savatgy consistently outpaced Christian Craig and Zach Osborne down the stretch to put himself in contention for the title at the last round in Vegas. Sin City experienced a rain storm of biblical proportions, which no one had been prepared to face. Savatgy had one of his most impressive rides yet on the Pro Circuit machine; both because of his maturity and his composure in adverse conditions. It’s also important to realize that he absolutely hates riding in the mud, but he took control of the situation and put Cooper Webb in an extremely precarious position where he couldn’t afford any mistakes on one of the most mistake prone courses of the season. Savatgy and Pro Circuit missed another year and another opportunity at adding to the collection of number one plates on the rig, but Joey showed that he’s in it to win it this year when he lines up at Hangtown.
16 GRITMOTO • MAY.23.16
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