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JOEY SAVATGY
250 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> The 2018 250SX West Coast championship series was not the ‘revenge’ season Joey Savatgy and his fans had hoped it would be. After suffering that demoralizing championship loss in the East region, a year ago, many thought Savatgy would come out ring on all cylinders and be the man to beat this year. He certainly entered the season as one of the heavy title favorites and he backed it up with a fourth, a second, and a win at the rst three rounds. Even after he blew a late race lead that could have resulted in another victory at round two, it still looked like he was the man to beat because he responded with a big win at round three. But since then, his season has basically unraveled. He only returned to the podium one time before nally breaking back through at Salt Lake City one week ago, bringing home a third. During that span, he had dismal nishes of tenth and twelfth, that were essentially the nail in the cof n of his title hopes. He entered Las Vegas third in the points, twenty-two points behind leader Aaron Plessinger. He was not mathematically eliminated, but his chances were astronomically thin.
Savatgy’s qualifying practice sessions ended up going very well. His smooth, economical riding style matched up well with the slick, tentative race track. He would set the second fastest lap time of the 250SX West Coast crop of riders and the third fastest lap time of both 250 divisions. His speed was there, now he just needed to put it all together in the races.
Savatgy kicked off his night of racing with a second place start right alongside his teammate, Adam Cianciarulo. The two Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders endured an all-out duel during the opening lap. They are close friends off the track, but it sure didn’t look like it early in this race. Both riders were giving it their all to pass each other and they even came close to making contact on a few occasions. But when the green ag waved signaling the end of the rst lap, it was Savatgy who had established himself as the leader. That rst lap battle and intensity was a refreshing sight to see from Savatgy who was appeared to struggle with that in the past. He was red up and clearly ready to race as he would build a small cushion over Cianciarulo and hold it all the way to the nish. It was an impressive heat race from Savatgy and he was hoping to carry it right over to the main event.
Savatgy could not replicate his near holeshot or his rst lap intensity from the heat race in the main. However, he did start off very strong in third place. He was all over the two leaders who were enduring their own battle and seemed to be waiting for the right opportunity to make a move. It stayed like that for a few laps allowing Cianciarulo to pass his teammate and assume third place from Savatgy. Savatgy would not get too comfortable back in fourth because a few laps later, Jordon Smith would knock him back to fth. This is where Savatgy would make his stand and start riding with that ery intensity. He latched onto the rear wheel of Smith and followed his surge to the front. He would not follow him all the way up to second because he simply ran out of time, but he did have time for one last ditch effort to pass Martin for fourth. Savatgy tried every move possible on the nal lap to try and pass him and he failed until the nal corner. Savatgy ended up getting a great run through the rhythm section and went in deep on Martin in the nal turn. Both riders would go down but Savatgy remounted rst and took fourth place. it was a nice second half resurgence for Savatgy and he would love to bottle up that energy and bring it with him to the outdoor series.
36 GRITMOTO • MAY 6, 2018