JOEY SAVATGY | GRIT-209 | 450SX

JOEY SAVATGY | GRIT-209 | SX 450

Without question, would the track in Oakland offer the highest degree of difficulty that we'd seen thus far. Though without possessing sand, or varying elements of Mother Nature, this course would force the most technically sound riders to the front of the field...which played into the hand of Joey Savatgy as the 450cc class began its typical qualifying process. Justin Barcia would be one of the first riders to leap across the stadium floor, though Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson would be just two of the athletes who stood atop the leaderboard as all was said and done. However, throughout the number of time(d) trials across the afternoon slate, there would be countless crashes and mistakes made by all in the field; proving that this specific blueprint spared no-one, prior to the night show beginning. He was registered in heat two, and would do his best to move forward and away from roost that would be propelled from rear wheel(s) in the foreground. Scrubbing the wall-jump, just after the mechanics area, the field would be funnel into the left-hander that followed (in a single-file process) while nearly hitting the machine(s) of those who were ahead! He and Colt Nichols were nearly interlocked, and though the Honda rider was keeping him honest from just a few feet behind, he would manage to compete the gigantic tripling-combo that was shortly thereafter...where a mere over-jump of two feet could lead to a disastrous halting of speed (or loss of positions). Maintaining his flow in the corners that were beginning to become heavily berm(ed) (like after the "SX" triple) his stance on the rear brake, coupled with a vicious release of RPM's (via clutch release) would essentially enable him to gather the fifth position at the checkered flag. Not long thereafter, was the main event, where many in the crowd would watch for red-plate holder, Eli Tomac, to inflict serious damage on the field around him. But Savatgy couldn't focus on the whereabouts of anyone else, especially with the transitions of the preceding finish-line rhythm lane now marred with grotesque grooves. His ability to "walk the tight rope" prior to jumping the middle triple of that sequence, was truly indescribable. It would be in that window of the track, where a significant margin would be gained over Colt Nichols who was just behind. Escaping the wrath of the grooves that had now decimated the dragon's back and other similar, abrupt faces, his concentration wasn't going to deviate from the track at hand. Instead, he would remained polished through the eighteenth and nineteenth minute(s) of action, arriving at the final juncture in eighth overall.

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