Joey Savatgy's Performance at 2026 Daytona Supercross: A Deep Dive
Daytona, FL - Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship
Joey Savatgy has been on a roll this season, consistently placing in the top ten across eight races. His recent performance at Daytona, where he secured a fifth-place finish, showcases his resilience and determination. While the top four riders have pulled ahead, Savatgy remains a strong contender, firmly rooted in the second group of riders aiming to break into the top four. Despite a solid start, he was disappointed not to have started at the front, but his fifth-place finish at the checkered flag is a testament to his skill and consistency.
An Interview with Joey Savatgy
Racer X: Joey, another stellar performance! You climbed from ninth to fifth, showcasing a brilliant ride in Daytona. Your consistency is impressive, man.
Joey Savatgy: Thank you! It was a good run, but I was a bit disappointed to see the next group so far ahead by the time I reached fifth. I felt like I could have kept up with them, but you know, they're factory riders with big budgets.
On Gaining on Malcolm
Racer X: Where do you think you were gaining on Malcolm?
Joey Savatgy: Before I passed him, a little bit everywhere. I think he's nursing something, even though he seems fine. His body language suggests fatigue, and he's favoring something. From my perspective, I was able to charge through and absorb the challenges, making small gains here and there.
On the Track Layout
Racer X: Daytona wasn't the treacherous track it usually is. They took out jumps and made it more raceable. Lap times didn't vary much, and everyone was doing similar things. How did you feel about the changes?
Joey Savatgy: I thought it was way better! It's just like we've discussed before, though. Hopefully, for next weekend in Indy, they'll revert to the normal track layout. I'd prefer a track that's a bit mellower, where you can still race without feeling like you're going to die. The lighting at night, especially on the far side, wasn't the best, making it harder to see the bottom of the ruts. This new layout made for better racing, but it was still gnarly enough to keep things interesting.
On Track Safety
Racer X: How deep was that inside rut on the off-camber?
Joey Savatgy: You couldn't go outside, even though I tried it once in the heat. Hunter managed to make it work in the main event.
On Paddle Tires
Racer X: Kenny told me he didn't run a paddle tire and struggled in the sand. Do you know why he didn't use one?
Joey Savatgy: He didn't run a paddle? That's crazy! I don't know if Coop had one, but Press day, Coop didn't have one. It's shocking how many guys didn't have paddles, especially since a handful of riders were running them daily on the supercross track before the season started. Once the #3 did it, we all did it, but the bike reacts differently. For me, the rear is low when I put a paddle on, making the front end too tall, which is why I don't know if I'll use one next weekend. Indy is typically gnarly, and a paddle might be viable, but it's crazy that Kenny didn't have one.
