Page 32 - Issue-61

JOEY SAVATGY
250 SX / 2ND
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Joey Savatgy was pegged as a clear title contender heading into the opening round of the 250SX West Coast Championship last weekend at Anaheim. He is one of the “veterans” of the 250 class this season and after the dramatic way he lost the East Coast Championship last year with
two turns to go at the season finale, it would be safe to say he is out to clear his name and redeem himself this time around. He continued his training program down at the GOAT Farm in Florida this offseason and remained with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki so everything around him was familiar and accessible. He has all the tools to make a serious championship push in what is likely to be his final season in the 250 class. Savatgy struggled just a bit in the timed qualifying sessions as he was only able to secure himself the sixth fastest lap time. He looked smooth and consistent but appeared to be lacking that extra grit needed on tough course it would turn it out to be. Neverthe- less, this isn’t his first rodeo so he knew what adjustments would be needed as they geared up for the night show. Savatgy got out to a decent start in his heat race. He appeared to have the holeshot coming out of turn one but came into turn two at a bad angle and got shuffled back several positions. He pounded his way around some of those riders before the end of the lap and took the green flag in third place. In the half a lap he got shuffled back, he lost a good amount of ground to Oldenburg and McElrath up front so he would have to run them back down. He slowly inched towards them and got right on their rear wheels on lap four. Once there, he tried to exploit an opening and pass Oldenburg on the inside of a 180-degree corner but went in too deep and grabbed too much front brake causing him to go down. Luckily, he only lost one position and he quickly picked it back up the following lap. He would ride the last few laps home in third place and go on and prepare for the main event. Savatgy learned from his mistake on the start in his heat race as this time he was able to get out of both turns one and two in the lead. He looked fresh and comfortable out front but almost immediate- ly received pressure from McElrath. Savatgy did a great job countering every move McElrath threw at him and maintained the lead. Then a handful of laps into the race, Savatgy’s teammate Adam Cianciarulo took over second place and began applying serious pressure to him. Savatgy had his hands full but still managed to thwart the riders behind him. Just past the halfway point, Cianciarulo would go down and give Savatgy a small cushion over new second place rider Aaron Plessinger. That cushion become nonexistent in just a matter of a few laps as Plessinger really started to pour on the pressure. Savatgy appeared to be holding him off well but made a slight bobble exiting a corner and that gave Plessinger the lead. Savatgy charged back after him on the ensuing lap but nothing would amount from it. He would end up finishing right there in second place. For Savatgy, it must be frustrating to see another lead slip away because he saw so many slip away last season as well. But on the bright side, he remains consistent and only seven points back from the points lead heading into round three.
32 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 14, 2018