race recap
JOEY SAVATGY | GRIT-207 | 450SX
February 7, 2023 · Joey Savatgy
JOEY SAVATGY | GRIT-207 | 450SX
A mix of veterans and younger competitors were amongst the field of highly talented 450cc athletes in Houston; and with the momentum that Joey Savatgy had recently been accruing, it was apparent that he'd be a betting favorite (for a single-digit finish) by the time the main event would conclude at NRG Stadium. The action was electric throughout practice, with Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton, and countless others contending for the pole position; he too would be on the cusp of the elite in the field, putting his 450cc engine to the test while blitzing the whoop section on a number of occasions. All the while he was vigilant on what would occur and remained cognizant of how the track was going to break down, even after the track maintenance crew would repair the racing surface before the night show. Hours thereafter, he could be seen pushing his chassis into turn number one with the clutch engaged and the rear wheel continuously rolling; hoping to keep a foundation of solid momentum throughout each corner instead of partaking in a process of starting and stopping. He and Justin Cooper would quickly find one another and trade positions in a figurative battle royalé; as he blasted his way into the outside of the sand section while spraying roost every which way from his rear wheel! He was exceptional within the sixth-place standing and appeared to hang onto this margin while conquering the last half of a lap...eventually doubling the finish-line with the aforementioned accolade in hand prior to moving onto the main event. Racing then continued into the final twenty-minute segment, where his front-wheel would be aimed for on a number of occasions, especially as he raced aboard the top(s) of berms near outlying tuff-blocks. Understanding that the track was becoming rather slick, he could be seen pushing the pace albeit in a taller gear than usual; and his momentum would continue, even after Dylan Ferrandis' unfortunate crash (which caused a restart). Once motors were fired, racing began and Savatgy returned to his usual hard-charging mantra. Ironically, there seemed to be more traction out west than on this hard-packed Houston surface (in spots), which allowed Joey to continue with persistence just past the halfway point. Knowing that mistakes could lead to a substantial loss of result(s) and time, he would locate even the smallest of pot-holes and square edges that were now apparent in almost every corner entrance of the Houston raceway. The pace of leader, Eli Tomac was one that couldn't be replicated; though that wouldn't stop him from continuing to push from the seventeenth minute (and beyond) while nearing the checkered flag. Battling with Justin Cooper and Ken Roczen while trading positions, Savatgy's ability to fight through fatigue was evident and proved his tenacity in front of thousands. He was tireless when jumping through the whoops, and after a hard-fought effort, would arrive in ninth overall as the dust settled in Houston.