Page 36 - Issue_60

JOEY SAVATGY
250 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The fans of the Angels of Anaheim are accustomed to deep fly balls soaring over the
left field wall, courtesy of sluggers such as Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Those four-seamed pitches hold no chance, when connected to the bat, as they are jolted absurd distances. The commonality of the MLB swing, and Monster Energy Supercross? The art of breaking into the stratosphere. However with this sport, both man and machine defy the laws of gravity, on the brink of disaster at any point time. The skill, honed for years and years by Joey Savatgy, as something that truly is of second nature to him. There isn’t one millisecond of questioning, pon- dering, or doubt, as he pushes onto the next obstacle. No rhythm section is too complicated, nor whoop too large, it’s all just a small bump in the road, on the path to victory. Supercross has always been a passion of his, the timing becoming a course of melodic tempo. His shifts, gracing the finest of precision, were hitting the Anaheim course with immense precision. Scur- rying into these ruts that lined the track early on in practice, his tire tread would hook and etch, molding as though the track was fresh clay. Coming into the qualifying rounds, his confidence was on another level, looking to make a stamp on the division from the heat race and on. As the field broke their line of unison, each rider in the heat found themselves a comfortable pace; and he looked to move forward. With cat-like reflexes, he would push on each and every inch of surface, taking his 250f to the limits. He tried to hug the inside in as many places as possi- ble, each lap hitting the same groove over and over. He had to differentiate himself somehow, and he knew replicating wouldn’t gain any margin. It would pay off, as he would soar across the line with a fourth gate pick, and overall gate position. With a nodding of the head, he would roll into the launch pad, to begin the main event. The camera crew would signal for show time, as the zipline would bring the lens just in front of the faces of the competitors. His head would drop, and the shifts would rattle, as he stormed into turn one. Looking to make moves quickly, he leaped through the first two sequences hoping to make moves in a hurry. Wading through the first few laps, he sat eighth in the early going, pursuing the front feverishly. His speed was no question, scrubbing each triple with dyer need, and tripling in any and every rhythm section possible. Working his way past Justin Hill, Chase Sexton, and Mitchell Oldenburg, he knew he couldn’t afford any mistakes, in the quest for the title. Although not a win, he would cross the checkered flag knowing he could live to ride another day.
36 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 8, 2018