Joey Savatgy (37) and Jeremy Martin (6) put on a back-in-forth show for the fans in the main event. Photo by: Hoppenworld
After a solid 2014 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship that peaked with a second overall at the penultimate round in Indiana, Joey Savatgy was picked up by the Monster Energy/Pro Cicuit/Kawasaki team for the 2015 season. Nobody really knew what to expect from Joey in the 2015 Eastern Regional 250SX Championship because he missed his entire sophomore Supercross season due to injuries and his freshman season best finish was a 6th. So, when the #37 came out at the 2015 Eastern opener in Arlington and finished third, expectations may have become a little lofty, for fans and Joey alike.
After Joey’s podium in Arlington, it would be five rounds before we would see the Thomasville, Ga. rider back on the box, but from then on, he was a permanent fixture. In the end, Joey finished fourth overall on the year, but he fought hard at the finale to prove he may have been the third best rider in the class. With Marvin Musquin and Justin Bogle clearly the class of the field in East Rutherford, Joey and Jeremy Martin put on a hell of a show for that third and final podium spot. You would think with a great race and a Championship being decided up front, there would be no way to garner fan attention anywhere else, but Savatgy and Martin pulled it off. The two of them went at it bar-to-bar for the last half of the race before contact between the two sent Martin to the ground on lap 14.
After the on-track brawl and podium celebrations were over, we caught up with Joey to talk about his day in East Rutherford, his race with Jeremy, his thoughts on his 2015 season and more. You can hear what Joey had to say in “Inside Story” below.
Third overall tonight after a tough race with Jeremy Martin. How are you feeling overall on your day in East Rutherford?
Not good, man. It’s frustrating. The team worked hard and I worked hard as well, so third is good. You know, we’re on the box, but at the end of the day, we want more. The team works harder than just third, and I’m going to try my best to get these guys higher up on the box whether it be second or first. You got to start somewhere. For a day like today, as bad as we struggled from the first lap, I’ll take being on the box any day of the week. It’s always good. Had to earn that for sure. Martin was riding good. I’m sure there’s going to be some controversy about some of the passes, but I look at it like if he was in my shoes, I’m sure he would have done the same thing. You’re not going to let anybody just come by you and not put up any sort of fight.
I don’t think there’s going to be any controversy. At least I didn’t see anything too dirty in there. Just looked like two guys fighting their hardest for a podium spot.
No, nothing dirty.
What do you think people or Jeremy might think was dirty? I mean, there were a few moments where you two made a little contact. Was it the second one?
Exactly, I think when I bumped him and he went off the track. Like I said, put the shoe on the other person and we’ll see what Jeremy says. It’s going to be the same way.
I just got done interviewing Jeremy. He didn’t say anything bad.
It’s the same way. You’re going to protect your lines and I’m not going to let anybody bully me around, so if he wants to make the pass and now he’s out to make it stick—and not bagging on him by any means. He was going fast and I made a few mistakes and he closed in on me. So it’s one of those deals where in the heat of the moment things probably went a little bit farther than they should of, but you move on from it. Next weekend I don’t think there will be a big deal about it. I’ll talk to him a little bit and let him know that “hey, man, it’s racing.” I’m not going to let him by me, and I’m sure he’d say the same thing, so.
I think Jeremy thought he was faster than you and thought if he got by he might go further, but that kid’s a warrior and is probably only mad he couldn’t make a pass stick.
I mean, he was definitely a little bit quicker than me, but where it really started to spiral for me was on, I think, lap 5 before the mechanics’ area. I case the triple and actually side saddle. So he gained a lot of time right there, and once he snuck up onto the back of me, it was kind of one of those deals where it turned into protection mode where I’m not trying to leave my insides open. And if I wouldn’t have made that mistake, it would have taken him a lot longer to catch me. The gap was staying pretty much the same. But, it’s racing, man. We’re on the box and we’re healthy and we’ll move on from it.
I think overall you have to be happy with your 2015, no? You had never been on the podium before this year and you scored four podiums in 2015. I know you wanted more and you’re on a team that expects to win, but you ended the season with three straight podiums, so you got consistent towards the end. How would you rate your season overall?
The season is good, man. We’re healthy, like you said. Last year this time I wasn’t racing; I was watching because of injury. I haven’t raced Supercross since my rookie year, so it’s definitely a step in the right direction, and it feels great to have guys like Mitch behind me. He believes in me, and that really makes me feel good because I’m trying my best and we’re working hard and we’re not going to stop until we get a W. So just got to keep our head up, keep working forward and learn from it.
Does the Las Vegas East/West Shootout mean a lot to you next week or does the mind instantly switch to outdoor mode?
Obviously every race means something—there’s money on the line, there’s bonus checks—but at the end of day, dude, we’re getting ready for outdoors. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of the guys say they’ve been doing a lot of outdoor testing. You’re just outdoor testing, doing 40 minute motos, then you come back to Supercross and just totally different change of pace. But the East/West Shootout would mean a lot, especially if we win. It would mean a lot to Mitch [Payton], and I think [Chris] Alldredge and I will be the only ones there so it’s down to of us two for the team. We started the season with four; now we’re down to two. So to be one of the last guys is good. I’m trying my best to keep the team on my back and guide us to a win.
Last question. At the end of outdoors, you were looking good in 2014. How are you feeling outdoors on the new bike? How’s everything looking overall for you going into outdoors?
The bike’s sick. People are like, “Ah, it’s a Pro Circuit bike, I wonder how it is.” It’s pretty much exactly what they think it is. The bike’s amazing! I’ve never been happier with a dirt bike in my life. So everyone over here—Bones [Jim Bacon], Mitch, my mechanic Justin [Shantle] and everybody—we work hard and bike’s good. Outdoors should be interesting.
How’s your fitness at the moment?
Fitness feels good. That’s never really been a problem. Now, man, I’m excited—outdoors, fresh points, everyone starts even. It should be interesting.
Are you on a two-year deal here at Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki?
No, one.
Alright, well thanks for your time Joey, and see you next weekend in Vegas.
No problem.
