Joey Savatgy led the charge for the Quad Lock Honda team at Round 2 of the AMA Supercross Championship at San Diego, delivering a standout fifth-place finish and continuing the team’s impressive upward trajectory as a privateer-backed effort taking the fight to factory opposition.
Savatgy was firmly in the mix throughout the main event, spending more than half the race inside the top four before ultimately crossing the line fifth, less than two seconds shy of fourth-place Chase Sexton. Reflecting on the night, Savatgy said the heat race showed the speed was there, but it was the execution in the final that mattered most. He explained that his goal coming in was simply to race with the front runners, whether that meant eighth, third or better, as long as he was in the fight. After last weekend, he admitted the result was a big relief for himself, the sponsors and the team, adding that everyone is working incredibly hard and that the fifth place was a great reward for that selfless effort.
Managing the bigger picture, Savatgy said the long championship played a role in his approach, noting that he wasn’t taking unnecessary risks and that being able to perform for the full 20 minutes is critical. He acknowledged that Chase Sexton was riding well, but said he was proud of the fifth-place finish and already looking forward to fighting again next weekend.
The result marked a significant step forward for Quad Lock Honda, underlining both the capability of the team and the strength of the CRF450RWE platform, as the squad once again proved that belief, commitment and hard work can deliver world-class performance on the sport’s biggest stage.
Team Principal Martin Davalos praised the collective effort behind the breakthrough result, saying it meant a great deal to everyone involved. He explained that the riders, staff and sponsors all believe in what the team is building and in their capabilities, describing the fifth place as rewarding for every single person in the group and expressing particular happiness for Savatgy.
While Savatgy starred at the front, teammates Christian Craig and Shane McElrath both qualified directly from their respective heat races but faced difficult main events. Team Director Yarrive Konsky remained optimistic despite the challenges, describing Savatgy’s ride as outstanding while admitting frustration over the results for Craig and McElrath. Konsky said the team knows there is far more potential than what was shown on race day, adding that what they have seen during the week proves the ceiling is much higher. He stressed that the group will work together to find solutions and reiterated his belief in the incredible talent of both riders.
Craig finished 15th and was direct in his assessment, saying the result was not good enough for his own expectations. He explained that over the 24 laps, he lost touch with the lead group by too much, but remained confident that he is better than that and simply needs to keep building and improving. McElrath, who finished 18th, echoed that sentiment, stating that his performance was simply not good enough. After qualifying 12th, he felt he failed to convert that into the race pace the team knows is possible, adding that they had already debriefed and that immediate work is required to avoid similar outcomes.
After two rounds, Savatgy sits equal ninth in the World SuperMotocross Championship standings, with Craig 12th and McElrath 17th. The series continues this weekend in Anaheim, where Quad Lock Honda will aim to build on its momentum and continue its upward climb.
