Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Battles for the Winners Circle in Daytona
. By Bikeland Staff
Under the lights of the legendary Daytona International Speedway, the infield was transformed to host Monster Energy Supercross on Saturday. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy battled forward after the mid-pack start to finish just shy of the podium in fourth place for the second consecutive weekend. In the 450SX class, Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki’s Chad Reed won his heat race and went on to finish fifth despite a crash. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Davi Millsaps finished ninth place for his fourth top-10 finish of the season.
Flirting with the Podium
Savatgy adapted quickly to the outdoor-style supercross course at Daytona and posted the third fastest qualifying time. He finished third in his heat race and went into the main event hungry for the podium. When the gate dropped for the main event, Savatgy rounded the first turn mid-pack and had his work cut out for him. He made some quick moves in the opening laps and progressively picked off riders to finish in fourth.
“The positive is I was able to move forward the whole race,” said Savatgy. “But I really need to get a start. I’m making it hard on myself and it’s frustrating because I know I can run with the leaders and be on the podium. On to next week.”
Championship Proven
You can never count out Reed when it comes to Daytona. The three-time Daytona winner was second fastest in qualifying and solidified his threat for the podium with a heat race win. In the main event, Reed was making his way forward from a top-10 start but as he was making a pass for third, he clipped another rider and went down. The veteran remounted in ninth and went on to pass back up to fifth place.
“I felt really good today,” said Reed. “It’s a bummer because I felt like I could have challenged for the win tonight. I always love coming to Daytona and this place is special to me.”
Progress
Millsaps has been looking more like himself with every passing week and was excited to get to Daytona. Having spent a lot of his time growing up in Florida, he had a ton of family to cheer him on. With a top 10 qualifying time, he went into the heat and rode to a fourth place finish to transfer directly to the main event. Millsaps started outside the top 10 but worked his way up to seventh by the halfway mark and would cross the line in ninth at the checkered flag.
“Tonight was much better than weeks passed,” said Millsaps. “I felt strong through all 20 laps tonight where earlier this year it was a struggle. I’m feeling better each weekend and with that comes confidence. The Monster Energy Kawasaki team is amazing with all the support they give me and I’m going to work as hard as I can to get us back to where we deserve to be.”
The King
Kawasaki Brand Ambassador Jeremy McGrath was on hand in Daytona starting with visiting a top Kawasaki dealership in Orlando to sign autographs with the race team on Friday. On Saturday, McGrath spent time at the Kawasaki Bike Week display with hundreds of enthusiasts, led a track walk with local dealers and watched the race with Kawasaki Executives visiting from Japan. The King of Supecross then stuck around for the amateur supercross on Sunday and Monday to help coach Team Green’s up and coming stars.
Indy
While the racing continues at Daytona with Team Green and the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross, Monster Energy Supercross heads north to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next Saturday. On Friday prior to the race, the Kawasaki riders will head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Westfield Powersports Supercross Party where fans are invited inside another prestigious speedway to meet their favorite supercross riders.
Results
Monster Energy Supercross
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Florida
Saturday, March 7, 2015
450SX Class
Ryan Dungey, KTM
Eli Tomac, Honda
Blake Baggett, Suzuki
Cole Seely, Honda
Chad Reed, Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki
Trey Canard, Honda
Jason Anderson, Husqvarna
Weston Peick, Yamaha
Davi Millsaps, Monster Energy Kawasaki
Broc Tickle, Suzuki
450SX Points Standings
Ryan Dungey, KTM - 224
Trey Canard, Honda - 184
Eli Tomac, Honda - 159
Ken Roczen, Suzuki - 156
Chad Reed, Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki - 140
Jason Anderson, Husqvarna - 140
Cole Seely, Honda - 138
Blake Baggett, Suzuki - 135
Andrew Short, KTM - 109
Broc Tickle, Suzuki - 107
Davi Millsaps, Monster Energy Kawasaki - 87
250SX Class
Marvin Musquin, KTM
Justin Bogle, Honda
Jeremy Martin, Yamaha
Joey Savatgy, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
RJ Hampshire, Honda
Jimmy Decotis, Honda
Kyle Peters, Honda
Anthony Rodriquez, Yamaha
Mitchell Oldenburg, Yamaha
Martin Davalos, Husqvarna