This has been all but confirmed through the rumor mill over the last few months, but today the Monster Energy / Kawasaki factory 450 team officially announced that Joey Savatgy will be joining Eli Tomac in the factory semi in 2019. Joey struggled for much of 2018 on the 250, but do not sleep on the #17 for 2019. Joey will make his 450 debut at the 2018 Monster Energy Cup in October.
The #17 will join a solid list of graduates—Justin Hill (Suzuki), Zach Osborne (Husqvarna) and Aaron Plessinger—that will be on factory 450’s in 2019. Who will have the easiest transition to the 450 and be the rookie of the year in ’19? That is really anyone’s best guess, and I think it will be the hottest bench racing question of this offseason.
Check out Kawasaki’s Instagram post announcing Joey’s signing below.
