June 3, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Grabs First Moto Podium at Thunder Valley

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner raced to his first moto podium of 2018, finishing third in Moto 2 that propelled him to fourth overall at Thunder Valley Motocross Park. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks collected another top-10 finish with an 8-11 effort for ninth overall. Joey Savatgy entered the day as the fastest qualifier and showed speed in the motos, but bad luck forced him to finish 17th overall.

Austin Forkner

Forkner started the day with the second-fastest qualifying time behind his teammate and he brought that confidence into the motos later in the day. His start in Moto 1 forced him to tap into that speed as he started outside the top 15. He worked his way into the top 10 and eventually crossed the finish in seventh. In Moto 2 he improved his start by coming around on the opening lap in fifth. Forkner battled for several laps to move into fourth and then nearing the end of the race made the pass for third where he finished. His 7-3 moto score landed him just off the podium in fourth.

"It was a day of progress for me," said Forkner. "I felt like I had the speed to be up front, but had to work through my start in the first moto. I was able to avoid the carnage in the second moto and put myself in contention for the podium. I think we're at a place where we can come out swinging the next round and hopefully get our first overall podium."

Garrett Marchbanks

For the third straight race, Marchbanks has put his Kawasaki KX250F in the top 10. The rookie put together two solid motos, both times making up positions. In the opening moto, Marchbanks started 10th and worked his way up to eighth, while in Moto 2 he overcame a tough start to move from 13th to 11th. His 8-11 score placed him ninth overall.

"I think we are doing pretty good so far to start the season, but I am really wanting to prove myself a bit more," said Marchbanks. "I know I'm learning most of these tracks for the first time and the team has been great. I am looking forward to taking what I learn at each race and applying it to future rounds. Being consistent is hard in this sport so I am thankful to be putting in good rides that have placed me in the top 10. We'll keep working hard to make improvements."

Joey Savatgy

Coming into the motos, Savatgy was on fire with a blistering qualifying time. He got a great jump on the Moto 1 start and put himself in good position early. He settled into second and eventually made his move from the lead. With a few laps to go, Savatgy was forced to retire early with a bike issue. Knowing he would have a tough gate pick in Moto 2, Savatgy gave it everything he had on the start and was rounding the outside when another rider crossed his path and he went down. He got up but had a lot of ground to make up. Even with a 30th place start, Savatgy made it all the way up to 12th, putting him in contention for the Hard Charger award for the round.

"It was an up and down day to say the least," said Savatgy. "We had a lot of good speed which is encouraging when you look to the rounds ahead, but we really should have at least been on the overall podium today. It's racing and everyone has their bad luck at some point. Mine came today. I'm just hoping we can put this in the past and start putting the team on top of the box."

250MX Class Results (Moto Results)

1. Jeremy Martin, Honda (2-1)
2. Alex Martin, KTM (3-2)
3. Justin Cooper, Yamaha (1-8)
4. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki (7-3)
5. Jordon Smith, KTM (4-5)
6. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha (6-4)
7. Chase Sexton, Honda (10-6)
8. Shane McElrath, KTM (9-9)
9. Garrett Marchbanks, Kawasaki (8-11)
10. RJ Hampshire, Honda (13-7)

17. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki (34-12)

250MX Class Points Standings

1. Jeremy Martin, Honda, 129
2. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 121
3. Alex Martin, KTM, 116
4. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 105
5. Justin Cooper, Yamaha, 98
6. Jordon Smith, KTM, 77
7. Chase Sexton, Honda, 76
8. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 75
9. Garrett Marchbanks, Kawasaki, 72
10. RJ Hampshire, Honda, 72
11. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 68

 

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May 26, 2018

All Three Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Riders Improve on Opening Round Finishes at Glen Helen

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy, Garrett Marchbanks, and Austin Forkner each earned a season-best finish at Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship at Glen Helen Raceway. Following a solid opening round, all three riders notched finishes in the top 10 with Savatgy in fifth with a 6-4, Marchbanks in eighth with a 7-10 and Forkner in 10th with a 13-6 moto scores.

Joey Savatgy

After a good showing at Hangtown, Savatgy backed it up with two come-from-behind motos in Southern California. In Moto 1, he got a good jump but was pushed back to eighth on the opening lap. With the riders running a similar pace, it was tough for him to move up much more than sixth. He got a better jump in Moto 2 but fell back to sixth on the second lap. Savatgy kept pushing and was able to break through to fourth to give him fifth overall.

"All in all, today was a better day than the opening round, but we've got more to show and I'm hoping to make it happen next week," said Savatgy. "My starts didn't help today either so that's another thing we can focus on this week. I'm really looking forward to getting a fresh start in Colorado."

Garrett Marchbanks

The young gun of the team continued to learn and improve in his first season as a pro. Marchbanks ran with Savatgy much of the opening moto and finished just behind his teammate in seventh. Moto 2 was a different story as he started back in 17th and worked hard to make a push to the front, eventually breaking into the top 10 to finish eighth overall with his 7-10 scores.

"Other than being in the top 10, a goal of mine is to learn something every time I'm on the track," said Marchbanks. "Everyone gets bad starts but it's how you come back that makes all the difference. With the bike we have, I am confident that we'll get a start here soon."

Austin Forkner

Coming off a tough opening round, Forkner was ready to race but still sore from hitting his ribs last weekend. To top it off, he started Moto 1 from near dead last but was quick to make up positions to salvage a good finish. In just one lap he went from 38th to 26th, eventually making it all the way to 13th to end the moto. Forkner didn't let the same start happen twice and nearly had the holeshot. He started up front and held on to a good finish of sixth to finish 10th overall.

"It's good to get two motos in and run up front in the second moto," said Forkner. "I was definitely sore, but glad to get through it with some positive things to take into next week. I know that if we can run up front when I am not feeling 100 percent, I should be able to do it when I get back to full health."

250MX Class Results (Moto Results)

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Alex Martin, KTM (3-3)
3. Jeremy Martin, Honda (5-2)
4. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna (2-5)
5. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki (6-4)
6. Justin Cooper, Yamaha (4-7)
7. RJ Hampshire, Honda (8-9)
8. Garrett Marchbanks, Kawasaki (7-10)
9. Chase Sexton, Honda (10-8)
10. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki (13-6)

250MX Class Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 88
2. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 88
3. Jeremy Martin, Honda, 82
4. Alex Martin, KTM, 74
5. Justin Cooper, Yamaha, 60
6. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 59
7. Chase Sexton, Honda, 50
8. RJ Hampshire, Honda, 50
9. Garrett Marchbanks, Kawasaki, 49
10. Jordon Smith, KTM, 43
11. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 41

 

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May 20, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Fielding a Mix of Rookie and Veteran Riders at Pro Motocross Opener

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki is ready to tackle the first of 12 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship with a collection of new and veteran riders lining up at Hangtown MX this weekend outside Sacramento. The 2016 Hangtown winner Joey Savatgy leads the charge for the team with third-year rider Austin Forkner back in action after sitting out several supercross rounds. Fresh off the amateur circuit, Garrett Marchbanks will make his pro debut at Hangtown and is ready to round out the team for the 2018 season.

Joey Savatgy

Savatgy was very familiar with the grueling nature of the Hangtown track as a former winner of the race. He knew starts were key and got a nice jump in Moto 1 to start fifth. Despite the conditions, Savatgy only had one rider pass him and finished a solid sixth to start the day. In Moto 2, he had some passing to do after starting outside the top-10. Even with the track being the worse it had been all day, Savatgy was able to make it up to 10th and score seventh overall.

"It's not really how I wanted to start the season, but each week we want to learn something new that we can take to the next race and I think we did that today," said Savatgy. "It's the start of a long season so at least we were able to leave healthy and be in a solid spot."

Garrett Marchbanks

With no comprehension of what he would feel when pulling up to the starting gate of the first moto, Marchbanks was determined to focus his nervous energy on a good start. He did just that with an eighth-place start. He ended up falling back six spots on the third lap but managed to make it back up to 12th at the checkered flag. In Moto 2 he got a similar start, but didn't make a mistake and worked his way up to sixth, giving him 10th overall.

"I am really happy that I was able to make improvements in the second moto," said Marchbanks. "I'm pumped to finish 10th. I didn't knnow what to expect other than I felt good coming into the race. We've got some work to do and I am really looking forward to Glen Helen."

Austin Forkner

Forkner started off the season like many expected - out front. He grabbed the first holeshot of the season and settled into second. He was bumped down to fourth but as the laps ticked by he was challenging for second before eventually finishing fourth. In Moto 2, Forkner hit his chest on the opening lap and tried to ride it out but it ended up being too painful to carry on. His 4-39 score still placed him 12th overall.

"We had a good battle going in that first moto and I really wanted to get back up on the podium in the second moto," said Forkner. "Unfortunately I hit my chest and with the track being so brutal, I couldn't keep going. It's a bummer. We'll get everything checked out and I'm looking forward to having fun with the boys at Glen Helen."

250MX Class Results (Moto Results)

1. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna (1-1)
2. Jeremy Martin, Honda (2-2)
3. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha (3-4)
4. Alex Martin, KTM (7-3)
5. Justin Cooper, Yamaha (5-9)
6. Chase Sexton, Honda (11-5)
7. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki (6-10)
8. Jordon Smith, KTM (8-8)
9. RJ Hampshire, Honda (10-7)
10. Garrett Marchbanks, Kawasaki (12-6)

 

12. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki (4-39)

250MX Class Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 50
2. Jeremy Martin, Honda, 44
3. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 38
4. Alex Martin, KTM, 34
5. Justin Cooper, Yamaha, 28
6. Chase Sexton, Honda, 26
7. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 26
8. Jordon Smith, KTM, 26
9. RJ Hampshire, Honda, 25
10. Garrett Marchbanks, Kawasaki, 24

 

12. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 18

 

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May 6, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Earns 150th Supercross Win as Adam Cianciarulo Clinches First Victory of 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki enjoyed a double celebration inside Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday night to close out the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross season. Not only was the team celebrating Adam Cianciarulo's first win of the 2018 season but also the 150th supercross victory. Cianciarulo's come-from-behind ride showcased his raw speed as he did everything he could to have a chance at the championship, ultimately coming up only two points shy. Teammate Joey Savatgy also had a great run in Las Vegas, finishing just off the podium in fourth.

Adam Cianciarulo

Cianciarulo entered the season finale with three runner-up finishes and it was time for him to grace the top step of the podium. He qualified on top during timed practice and finished second in his heat race. When the gate dropped on the main event, Cianciarulo was funneled back a bit and sat fifth after the first lap. He wasn't taking his time getting to the front and as the clock ticked halfway through the main event, Cianciarulo had made his way into the lead. He had some healthy competition but still managed to come across the line with almost a three-second gap to earn his first win of the 2018 season.

"It was a rollercoaster day because I've come in with a burden of a torn ACL all year, but then I twisted my ankle a bit in practice," said Cianciarulo. "Maybe it evened me out, but I felt ready to get this win and I'm so happy it ended up being Pro Circuit's 150th supercross victory. Since the knee ended up bothering me more than I thought it would during the supercross season, I have decided to get surgery on it so I can enter the 2019 season healthy and ready to bring the team a championship. It was a tough decision because I love riding outdoors, but it's the best decision for the long term."

Joey Savatgy

Savatgy entered the final race with some momentum from a solid showing in Salt Lake City. As a former winner of the showdown race in Las Vegas, Savatgy was prepared and made a quick impact with his first heat race win of the season. In the main event, Savatgy was one of the first riders to the first turn and started the race in third. After a shuffle of riders at the front, Savatgy was pushed back to fifth, but was able to make a pass on the final lap to finish fourth. He eneded the season fourth overall in the championship standings.

"I really wish I could have ended the season on the podium, but we're healthy and ready to go after a championship outdoors," said Savatgy. "I feel really good and confident that the speed will be there for the motocross season. I got a win and several podium finishes, so the supercross season was solid."

250SX Class Showdown Main Event Results - Las Vegas, Nevada

1. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
2. Jordon Smith (KTM)
3. Shane McElrath (KTM)
4. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
5. Jeremy Martin (Honda)
6. Chase Sexton (Honda)
7. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
8. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
9. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha)
10. Hayden Mellross (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 211
2. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 209
3. Shane McElrath, KTM, 193
4. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 193
5. Chase Sexton, Honda, 167
6. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 136
7. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 134
8. Mitchell Harrison, Husqvarna, 121
9. Christian Craig, Honda, 106
10. Phil Nicoletti, Suzuki, 101

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 196
2. Jordon Smith, KTM, 188
3. Jeremy Martin, Honda, 175
4. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 137
5. Luke Renzland, Yamaha, 118
6. Kyle Peters, Suzuki, 112
7. Sean Cantrell, KTM, 108
8. Brandon Hartranft, Yamaha, 103
9. Anthony Rodriguez, KTM, 76
10. John Short, Yamaha, 58

 

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April 29, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Earns Double Podium at Penultimate Round in Utah

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Adam Cianciarulo and Joey Savatgy both graced the podium at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Utah's State Capitol. Cianciarulo finished with his third runner-up finish and sixth podium, while teammate Savatgy ended up third with his third podium in 2018. Cianciarulo cut into the points leaders deficit and now sits 13 points back with one round remaining. Savatgy held onto third overall in the standings.

Adam Cianciarulo

It felt like it could have been Cianciarulo's day as he entered the main event, bringing in confidence from being the top qualifier and taking his heat race win. He rode an aggressive opening lap to find himself in fourth on the rough track. As the first few laps ticked off, Cianciarulo ended up challenging for the lead, but after getting into second was unable to get close enough for a pass. He never gave up, which was proven with just a 0.4 secodn margin at the finish between Cianciarulo and the winner.

"Being at altitude and having two sets of whoops really held me back from getting int oa flow for the main event," said Cianciarulo. "You had to be efficient and this track really didn't allow for that. Considering I didn't feel overall that great, I'm happy to be up here (on teh podium) in second, but I really wanted that win. I know I say this every time, but I'll be coming out swinging and we'll fight until the end for that win."

Joey Savatgy

A podium had eluded Savatgy for the past few races, but he'd always showcased his speed. In Salt Lake City it came together for him as he grabbed his third holeshot of the season and led the opening eight laps of the race. A small mistake caused him to fall back to third, but he was able to hold on and put his KX250F back on the podium for the third time this season.

"We started the day with a pretty different track compared to what we ended up racing on," said Savatgy. "It's not the finish I wanted, but we're back on the podium, which is always a goal every week. I bust my butt at home to make sure I am the best at the race so I'm a little disappointed I wasn't able to finish it off and get the win. I'm not a quitter and I'm going to be ready for the showdown in Vegas."

250SX Class Main Event Results - Salt Lake City, Utah

1. Shane McElrath (KTM)
2. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
3. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
4. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
5. Chase Sexton (Honda)
6. Phil Nicoletti (Suzuki)
7. Dakota Alix (KTM)
8. Mitchell Harrison (Husqvarna)
9. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
10. Martin Castelo (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 196
2. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 183
3. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 174
4. Shane McElrath, KTM, 172
5. Chase Sexton, Honda, 150
6. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 128
7. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 124
8. Mitchell Harrison, Husqvarna, 115
9. Christian Craig, Honda, 106
10. Phil Nicoletti, Suzuki, 94

 

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April 15, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Finishes 10th In Minneapolis

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner won the opening Main Event of the final Triple Crown event of the season, ultimately finishing 10th overall with a 1-10-19 race score despite not finishing the final race after going down. The get off ultimately injured his collarbone and he will go under evaluation this week.

Austin Forkner

After qualifying third, Forkner raced to a wire-to-wire victory in Main Event 1. It was an uphill battle in the second Main Event where he went down on the start but made it back up to 10th. In the final main event he got another tough start outside the top 10 but quickly was working his way up and was running third when he went down at the end of the whoops section. He was unable to return to the race and later discovered he had injured his left collarbone. Forkner will head home to meet with his doctor to discuss a prognosis.

"I wish things went differently but injuries have been brutal this season," said Forkner. "I've gone through them before and know I can come back strong on the other side of this."

250SX Class Main Event Results - Minneapolis, Minnesota

1. Jeremy Martin (Honda)
2. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
3. Jordon Smith (KTM)
4. Sean Cantrell (KTM)
5. Anthony Rodriguez (KTM)
6. Joshua Osby (KTM)
7. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha)
8. John Short (Yamaha)
9. Thomas Ramette (Yamaha)
10. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 154
2. Jordon Smith, KTM, 142
3. Jeremy Martin, Honda, 138
4. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 137
5. Luke Renzland, Yamaha, 95
6. Kyle Peters, Suzuki, 86
7. Sean Cantrell, KTM, 78
8. Brandon Hartranft, Yamaha, 73
9. RJ Hampshire, Honda, 57
10. Anthony Rodriguez, KTM, 57

 

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April 8, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cianciarulo Takes Over Second in Western Regional Championship

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Adam Cianciarulo and Joey Savatgy were tasked to battle nature as the skies stayed open all day in Seattle, leaving the track inside CenturyLink Field a complete mess. Cianciarulo was able to make his way through the pack to finish on the podium in third, while Savatgy had to overcome a tip over into a mud pile to finish 12th. Cianciarulo's podium pushed him ahead of his teammate to take over second in the point standings, sitting 17 points back with two rounds to go.

Adam Cianciarulo

With only one practice to get acquainted with the track, Cianciarulo did well in his heat before ultimately getting stuck in the mud. He went on to win the LCQ and when the riders lined up for the main event, they were only facing eight minutes plus one lap instead of the usual 15 minutes plus one lap. Doing what he could to keep his bike upright, Cianciarulo settled into 10th on the start. He chose his lines wisely and as other riders battled the conditions, Cianciarulo made his move to the front, sliding into third with two laps to go.

"I really want to get my first win of the season, but in a night like tonight I'll take a podium," said Cianciarulo. "We get another couple weeks off and my goal is to finish strong. We're 17 points back and we'll do everything we can to be in contention at the end."

Joey Savatgy

The race conditions proved unpredictable over and over with Savatgy being on the tough end of the battle once the main event hit. He got out to a great start in second, but tipped over in between the lanes of the track. The accumulated mud ate his bike up and it took a lot of time to get going again. He didn't give up and was able to score a 12th when the race was all said and done.

"I put myself in good position on the start, but a little mistake turned into a big one with those track conditions," said Savatgy. "I didn't want to give up and tried to make up as many positions as possible in the shortened race. Anything can happen so we won't give up until the checkered flag in Vegas."

250SX Class Main Event Results - Seattle, Washington

1. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
2. Chase Sexton (Honda)
3. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
4. Shane McElrath (KTM)
5. Justin Starling (Husqvarna)
6. Mitchell Oldenburg (Yamaha)
7. Mitchell Harrison (Husqvarna)
8. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
9. Justin Hill (Suzuki)
10. Hayden Mellross (Yamaha)

 

12. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 177
2. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 160
3. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 153
4. Shane McElrath, KTM, 146
5. Chase Sexton, Honda, 132
6. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 119
7. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 110
8. Christian Craig, Honda, 106
9. Mitchell Harrison, Husqvarna, 100
10. Hayden Mellross, Husqvarna, 81

 

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March 24, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cianciarulo Moves Into Third in Championship With Runner-Up Finish in Indy

All of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders came together for the first time this year for an East/West Showdown. Adam Cianciarulo battled through the pack to make it up to the runner-up spot, which pushed him into third in the Western Regional 250SX Championship. Austin Forkner made up a point in his Eastern Regional 250SX Championship effort after finishing sixth, while Joey Savatgy overcame a fall early in the race to make it up to 10th.

Adam Cianciarulo

Lucas Oil Stadium was host to the first of two East/West Showdown races and after six weeks off Cianciarulo was fired up to prove the time off was time well spent. The Floridian won his heat race and got a nice jump off the start to be one of the first into the sharp 180 degree turn. After the chaos of the first lap was complete, Cianciarulo was in eighth and quickly passing riders. He made it into fourth by the fifth lap and wasn't done, making a great last lap pass for second.

"Everyone was bringing up my string of crashes in practice and I just looked at it as something in the past," said Cianciarulo. "It's something I have to learn from and be able to put out of my mind as we go into the night race. I won the heat and pushed really hard in the main event to get that second place. I have a great team of people behind me, always helping me see failure - like the crashes - as something that can motivate me to do better. I can't wait to be back in a few weeks."

Austin Forkner

Unlike his teammates, Forkner has been lining up for a race every Saturday for the past month and a half. It showed with a win in his heat race and good outlook for the main event. Forkner didn't get the start he was looking for in ninth, and despite the stacked field was able to work his way forward and finish sixth.

"I didn't get the start I wanted to in the main and that hurt me getting to the front and challenging for the win," said Forkner. "The track was tough and there were a lot of fast guys out there in front of me. It wasn't where I wanted to finish, but it's time to get a few weeks off and come back fresh and ready to battle for some wins."

Joey Savatgy

Savatgy was showing steady speed all day and it translated into the night show with a fourth-place finish in his heat race. On the main event start, he was able to make it through the first turn pile up and come across the green flag opening lap in sixth. He was working his way forward when he went down, taking him some time to get up which pushed him back to 13th. Savatgy would be able to make it up to 10th and salvage as many points as possible with three rounds remaining.

"We weren't able to capitalize tonight like we had hoped but if I've learned anything from the past, the championship isn't over until the final lap of the last race," said Savatgy. "We get to lineup again in two weeks and I'm looking forward to getting another chance to be up at the front."

250SX Class Showdown Main Event Results - Indianapolis

1. Jeremy Martin (Honda)
2. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
3. Luke Renzland (Yamaha)
4. Jordon Smith (KTM)
5. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
6. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
7. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
8. Kyle Peters (Suzuki)
9. Phil Nicoletti (Suzuki)
10. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 151
2. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 142
3. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 139
4. Shane McElrath, KTM, 127
5. Chase Sexton, Honda, 109
6. Christian Craig, Honda, 106
7. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 105
8. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 95
9. Mitchell Harrison, Husqvarna, 84
10. Hayden Mellross, Husqvarna, 68

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna, 131
2. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 124
3. Jordon Smith, KTM, 121
4. Jeremy Martin, Honda, 119
5. Luke Renzland, Yamaha, 92
6. Kyle Peters, Suzuki, 85
7. Sean Cantrell, KTM, 59
8. RJ Hampshire, Honda, 57
9. Brandon Hartranft, Yamaha, 57
10. Colt Nichols, Yamaha, 54

 

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March 17, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Endures Tough Race to Finish In The Top-Five

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner proved his resolve for chasing his first career championship inside The Dome at America's Center after overcoming a fall and a mishap with a lapper to finish fifth. He now sits eight points back with an interesting East/West Showdown next weekend in Indianapolis. Teammate Martin Davalos was quick throughout the day, but went down during the main event and was scored 22nd.

Austin Forkner

Two-time winner Forkner has been able to rise above the pressure and win races in only his second season racing supercross. He was able to get a great jump on the start and powered through to the lead on the opening lap. Around halfway through the race as the lead riders got into lappers, the clear track was suddenly crowded and a small mistake from Forkner cost him a few positions as he went back to fifth. He quickly was making up time, but another lapper forced him to fall and stall the bike. Undeterred and knowing each position counted, Forkner pushed as much as he could to make it back into the top-five. With four rounds remaining and two East/West showdowns coming up, Forkner is confident he can make up the points lost in St. Louis.

"It was a frustrating night for sure, but it's one thing to dwell on what could have been and another to turn our focus to a great opportunity next weekend with the showdown," said Forkner. "I made mistakes and then I also was involved in mistakes not my own doing, but everyone has their bad days and I'm hoping this is the worst I will encounter as we keep pushing forward toward the end goal."

Martin Davalos

Davalos has had great luck in the past with rides in St. Louis and it was starting out to be a great night after taking second in his heat race. Like his teammate, he got out to a great start and settled into fourth early. As he was trying to push his way forward, Davalos went down and was forced to retire early, being credited 22nd. He will take the week to evaluate and see if he'll be able to line up on Saturday in Indianapolis.

250SX Class Main Event Results - St. Louis, Missouri

1. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
2. Jeremy Martin (Honda)
3. Jordon Smith (KTM)
4. Kyle Peters (Suzuki)
5. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
6. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha)
7. Luke Renzland (Yamaha)
8. Michael Mosiman (Husqvarna)
9. Sean Cantrell (KTM)
10. Thomas Ramette (Yamaha)

 

22. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna), 115
2. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 107
3. Jordon Smith (KTM), 102
4. Jeremy Martin (Honda), 93
5. Luke Renzland (Yamaha), 71
6. Kyle Peters (Suzuki), 70
7. RJ Hampshire (Honda), 57
8. Sean Cantrell (KTM), 56
9. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 54
10. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki), 53

 

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March 10, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Moves Into a Tie For The Points Lead

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner landed back on the podium for the third straight week and the result of his hard work pushed him into a tie for the points lead. Forkner will be running the red plate next weekend in St. Louis after a strong third-place showing. Martin Davalos tied his season-best finish of fifth and climbed up to eighth in the points standings.

Austin Forkner

On the heels of back-to-back wins, Forkner started the day as the top qualifier. He would finish third in his heat race, giving him a good gate pick to tackle the tough 180 degree first turn. The Kawasaki of Forkner was at the front when the riders cleared the turn and he tried to settle in for a demanding race. Forkner was running a solid race but unable to close the small gap to the leader, settling for third.

"I tried to run with those guys at the start and push really hard but I wasn't able to bridge the gap," said Forkner. "I got a little tight and had to settle back in to make sure I was hitting my lines because the track was pretty tough and changing a lot. My goal has been to be consistent and I've been able to do that the past few races, putting me in a good position with the points."

Martin Davalos

Davalos had a lot of great moments last weekend in Atlanta and tried to draw upon those moments as he took to the track in Daytona. He started the night off with a good showing in the heat race, finishing second. That helped him get a good start in the main event, starting the race off in seventh. Davalos worked hard to get up to the front-runners, making it as high as fourth place before eventually finishing fifth.

"It's been a tough opening four rounds so it's nice to be able to tie my best finish and overcome from an up and down weekend," said Davalos. "I'm ready to put myself on the podium and representing Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki at the front of the pack."

250SX Class Main Event Results - Daytona Beach, Florida

1. Jordon Smith (KTM)
2. Jeremy Martin (Honda)
3. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
4. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
5. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki)
6. Kyle Peters (Suzuki)
7. Sean Cantrell (KTM)
8. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha)
9. Ramylier Alves (Yamaha)
10. Luke Renzland (Yamaha)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 89
2. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna), 89
3. Jordon Smith (KTM), 81
4. Jeremy Martin (Honda), 70
5. RJ Hampshire (Honda), 57
6. Luke Renzland (Yamaha), 55
7. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 54
8. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki), 52
9. Kyle Peters (Suzuki), 51
10. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki), 49

 

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March 4, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Earns Back-To-Back Wins with Triple Crown Victory

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner made a last lap pass in the final main event race to win his first triple crown and take back-to-back wins at the first-ever supercross inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The win also kept the streak alive for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki as the only team with wins in the special format - Joey Savatgy won the first triple crown race in Anaheim. Forkner now sits just two points back of the championship leader. Teammate Martin Davalos had several shining moments including a win in the second main event. His 8-1-17 results scored Davalos eighth overall.

Austin Forkner

All eyes were on the young gun Forkner after taking his first-career victory last weekend in Tampa. The three-race format meant that starts would be critical and Forkner was able to lock down three good starts to put himself in contention. In Main Event 1, he got a decent start but was forced to push his way through the pack from sixth to finish fourth. He really took charge of the start in Main Event 2 when he got out front early and led nearly every lap before finishing second.

With the overall on the line, Main Event 3 was chaotic after Forkner got a mid-pack start but was quickly pushing his way to the front. He had time on his side with the final race being the longest. As he entered the final lap, Forkner sat second overall but a last-lap pass pushed him into a tie for the overall with Forkner winning the tie-breaker and taking the win.

"The format is really fast and it makes that final race pretty crazy," said Forkner. "We did know where we needed to be in that final race to end up on the podium or get a win, but I saw my mechanics' pit board with two laps to go and knew I needed to get by the rider in front of me. It's really cool to take the win and make up even more points. There is a lot of racing left and I think I'm really going to like Daytona."

Martin Davalos

Davalos had an up and down night with a lot of great moments. In Main Event 1, he was out front for the first several laps before going down. He quickly got up and still finished eighth. Main Event 2 was very solid for Davalos who charged from third to finish with the win. He put himself in contention for the win when he started second in Main Event 3, but went off the track after the whoops and it took some time to get going again. His 17th-place finish in the final race pushed him down to finish eighth. With all the chaos and Davalos' win in Main Event 2, he moved up to 10th in the overall points.

"Today was such a rollercoaster for me and I felt like I had the speed to win or at least be up on the podium," said Davalos. "The track was really tricky and I know I wasn't the only one who had issues throughout the night, but I need to try and execute because I want to win for the team."

250SX Class Main Event Results - Atlanta, Georgia

1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 4-2-3
2. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna), 1-3-5
3. Jordon Smith (KTM), 3-4-6
4. RJ Hampshire (Honda), 7-5-4
5. Jeremy Martin (Honda), 6-10-1
6. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 5-11-2
7. Kyle Peters (Suzuki), 11-7-7
8. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki), 8-1-17
9. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha), 12-8-9
10. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki), 9-14-8

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna), 70
2. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 68
3. RJ Hampshire (Honda), 57
4. Jordon Smith (KTM), 55
5. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 54
6. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki), 47
7. Jeremy Martin (Honda), 47
8. Luke Renzland (Yamaha), 42
9. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 34
10. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki), 34

 

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February 25, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Wins And Moves Into Second Overall

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner rode to an impressive first-career victory in supercross' return to Raymond James Stadium, moving into second overall and just five points behind the leader. Teammate Martin Davalos bounced back from a tough season opener to finish fifth.

Austin Forkner

The second round of the Eastern Regional 250SX championship brought the racers to the West Coast of Florida for the first time in nearly 20 years. Forkner was able to race to his full potential after getting a start up front and passing for the lead just after the first lap completed. He pushed hard to keep his lead and was able to hold off advances on the final lap to claim his first victory. The win also propelled him to second in the standings, only five points back of the leader.

"I am so stoked to get the win," said Forkner. "I felt the pressure coming, but I tried to hit my marks and pull a gap. I thought we were both going down but I just hit the gas and kept it up. I'm so happy for the team and to get this first win under my belt."

Martin Davalos

Davalos worked all week to get healed up and ready to get back on the gate this weekend after a hard get off at the opening round. He started the night off right and won his heat race, putting him in a good position for the main event. On the start, Davalos got pushed out just enough to come around mid-pack, but made up time when a fallen rider slowed up some of the racers. He started picking off riders and worked his way from seventh to finish fifth.

"It was really good to be able to get back out there and race," said Davalos. "It was a tough week, but I was focused and knew I wanted to ride. I love racing in Florida and the track was really fun. It will be nice to build on this weekend."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results

1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
2. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha)
3. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
4. RJ Hampshire (Honda)
5. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki)
6. Jordon Smith (KTM)
7. Luke Renzland (Yamaha)
8. Cameron Mcadoo (Honda)
9. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
10. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki)

250SX Class Eastern Regional Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna), 47
2. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 42
3. RJ Hampshire (Honda), 38
4. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 37
5. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki), 34
6. Jordon Smith (KTM), 34
7. Luke Renzland (Yamaha), 30
8. Jeremy Martin (Honda), 29
9. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 28
10. Cameron Mcadoo (Honda), 25

 

13. Martin Davalos (Kawasaki), 19

 

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February 17, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Comes Through the Pack in Texas

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner started his sophomore supercross campaign with a heat race win and then came through the pack to earn seventh inside AT&T Stadium. Teammate Martin Davalos had a good day going for him as the top qualifier and heat race winner, but was hit hard from behind in the first turn of the main event and was unable to continue the race.

Austin Forkner

Forkner has overcome a lot on his road to Round 1, recovering from an off-season injury to be race-ready in time for the opening round. He quickly adapted to the track in his heat race and claimed the win. In the main event, Forkner avoided the first-turn carnage that collected his teammate, but went down later on the opening lap that pushed him back to 14th. He was on a mission to make up as many spots as possible crossing the line in seventh, just over one second behind sixth.

"The first lap was very chaotic with the riders going down in the first turn and everyone trying to settle in," said Forkner. "I made a mistake and went down, costing me some time. I was able to get in a groove and start picking off riders, but the front group was already pretty far ahead. I almost got the next two guys who connected on the final lap, but just missed out. We'll take what we've learned and come back strong next week."

Martin Davalos

Davalos put all eyes on him as the top qualifier on the day. He was able to translate that day speed to the night racing, winning his respective heat race to enter the main event with first gate pick. Davalos got a good jump off the line and was about to put his KX250F into the first turn when he was hit from behind and went down. The hard crash forced Davalos to retire from the race, turning his attention to Round 2 in Tampa, Florida, next weekend.

"It's a tough pill to swallow when you put in the work all day long and then get taken out on the start of the main event," said Davalos. "I've been in this position before and am not going to give up on my hopes for a championship. It just got a little more challenging. We'll see how I feel this week and will hopefully be back out on top next weekend."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results

1. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna)
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
3. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki)
4. RJ Hampshire (Honda)
5. Jeremy Martin (Honda)
6. Jordon Smith (KTM)
7. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
8. Brandon Hartnaft (Yamaha)
9. Sean Cantrell (KTM)
10. Luke Renzland (Yamaha)

250SX Class Eastern Regional Points Standings

1. Zach Osborne (Husqvarna), 26
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 23
3. Jimmy Decotis (Suzuki), 21
4. RJ Hampshire (Honda), 19
5. Jeremy Martin (Honda), 18
6. Jordon Smith (KTM), 17
7. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 16
8. Brandon Hartnaft (Yamaha), 15
9. Sean Cantrell (KTM), 14
10. Luke Renzland (Yamaha), 13

 

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February 11, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cianciarulo Nearly Gets First Win in San Diego

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Adam Cianciarulo stood on the podium for the third time this season as he earned his best result during Round 6 at Petco Park. His runner-up finish moved Cianciarulo within one point of third place in the championship standings. Joey Savatgy also had a good showing in San Diego and sits just five points out of the Western Regional 250SX championship lead following a fourth-place finish.

Adam Cianciarulo

The day started off positive as Cianciarulo logged the second-fastest lap time in timed practice. When the night show started, Cianciarulo picked up his second heat race win, just ahead of his teammate. With that confidence going into the main event, Cianciarulo charged forward after a fourth-place start and quickly made it to second by the end of the first lap. He challenged Savatgy for the lead and took over on the second lap. In the final stages of the race, Cianciarulo went back and forth for the lead and eventually settled into second where he would finish.

"I am really happy to grab my best finish before the break," said Cianciarulo. "I rode a little tight for awhile and let Justin (Hill) slip away from me. It's going to be interesting coming back to an east/west shootout mid-season, but it's going to be good to get a little break now. I am going to enjoy being at home for a while."

Joey Savatgy

The day was an uphill battle for Savatgy, who was hit by his bike after going down in practice. Even with a sore wrist, he grabbed a second-place finish in his heat race and was determined to close the gap on the championship leader. For the second time this season, Savatgy grabbed the holeshot and led the first lap. A few riders were able to get by Savatgy, but he stayed close in fourth where he finished, despite not being 100 percent.

"Today was a rough one after going down in practice," said Savatgy. "With this being the last race for a while, we had to tough it out ang go after some points before the break. I wish I could have made it to the podium to help cut into the points even more, but all things considered it was an okay night."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results

1. Justin Hill (Suzuki)
2. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
3. Chase Sexton (Honda)
4. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
5. Shane McElrath (KTM)
6. Christian Craig (Honda)
7. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
8. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
9. Mitchell Harrison (Husqvarna)
10. Bradley Taft (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Regional Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 134
2. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 129
3. Shane McElrath, KTM, 117
4. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 116
5. Chase Sexton, Honda, 107
6. Christian Craig, Honda, 106
7. Justin Hill, Suzuki 105
8. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 83
9. Mitchell Harrison, Husqvarna, 72
10. Hayden Mellross, Yamaha, 67

 

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February 4, 2018

Savatgy Keeps Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Podium Streak Alive In Oakland

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy collected his second runner-up finish of the season inside Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The ever-changing soft track conditions made for a challenging race, but Savatgy made moves to the front and finished second. Teammate Adam Cianciarulo had a rough first lap coming around in last, but he was able to get all the way up to seventh by the end of the race. Savatgy now sits second in the standings, just eight points down, while Cianciarulo is fourth.

Joey Savatgy

Savatgy had a good start to the evening with a solid heat race, but really turned it on in the main event. With a track that seemed to eat riders up and cause mistakes, Savatgy raced strong and consistent. He battled all the way until the end to take over second place with just two laps to go. Savatgy moved up into second in the championship standings as the Western Regional 250SX championship hit its halfway mark.

"At the beginning of the race I felt like I was riding a bit tight," said Savatgy. "By about halfway, I settled in and tried to hang with the rider in front of me and see what he was doing different. It helped me relax and then I was able to turn it on at the end. I had a great time. I just hope next time we are battling for the lead and the win."

Adam Cianciarulo

The day was going great for Cianciarulo as he earned the fastest qualifying time and scored second in his heat race. Off the start he was pushed far inside and was forced to go inside the tough blocks, pushing him to the back of the pack. While making moves forward on the opening lap, he got caught up in a crash that happened right in front of him and went down. He remounted in last place, giving him the whole race to make up time. Cianciarulo never gave up and pushed until the end to finish seventh.

"After the start and going over the tough block I was trying to not get too flustered but I was forced to regroup after going down on the first lap," said Cianciarulo. "It's mentally tough knowing you have the speed to at least run up front, but not being able to be there and battle with those guys. There is still a lot of racing left so we'll get back at it this week and try and learn from the mistakes."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results

1. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
2. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
3. Justin Hill (Suzuki)
4. Christian Craig (Honda)
5. Alex Martin (KTM)
6. Chase Sexton (Honda)
7. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
8. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
9. Mitchell Harrison (Husqvarna)
10. Hayden Mellross (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Regional Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 118
2. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 110
3. Shane McElrath, KTM, 99
4. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 93
5. Christian Craig, Honda, 89
6. Chase Sexton, Honda, 86
7. Justin Hill, Suzuki 79
8. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 68
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Yamaha, 58
10. Mitchell Harrison, Husqvarna, 58

 

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January 28, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cianciarulo Bounces Back Onto Podium in Glendale

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Adam Cianciarulo returned to the podium at Round 4 of the Monster Energy Supercross Series, bouncing back with a solid showing inside University of Phoenix Stadium. Slick conditions narrowly kept teammate Joey Savatgy off the podium, finishing fourth for the night. Savatgy sits third in the championship standings while Cianciarulo is fourth overall.

Adam Cianciarulo

Starting the day qualifying second, Cianciarulo continued to showcase his talent and speed on the tough West Coast soil. He qualified third and after starting the main event in sixth, put his head down and started picking off riders. By the sixth lap he was into fourth behind his teammate and was able to capitalize on a mistake from Savatgy to move into third, where he maintained until the checkered flag.

"The start is definitely important with the array of talent that is in the class right now and I didn't get one tonight," said Cianciarulo. "With everyone being so 'on' it's harder to come through the pack. It really ended up being a mistake that helped push me forward, but I know that I have what it takes to win. I just need to put myself in that position."

Joey Savatgy

Savatgy entered the night show with the top qualifying time during the afternoon sessions. He was showcasing that speed, but a mistake in the hard-packed whoops forced Savatgy to qualify through the LCQ - which he won. Savatgy was able to get an awesome jump from the outside and earn the holeshot. He stayed with the front-runners for several laps and was keeping pace in third, but a mistake in the final few laps pushed him back to fourth where he finished.

"I was really trying to play it smart and ride my own race," said Savatgy. "It helped me last week, but the slick track bit me a few times. I'm thankful to have been able to get up quickly and get fourth, but it's not where I want to be. I know anything can happen in this series so we'll keep working and bring our best to Oakland next weekend."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results

1. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
2. Shane McElrath (KTM)
3. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
4. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
5. Chase Sexton (Honda)
6. Bradley Taft (Yamaha)
7. Justin Hill (Suzuki)
8. Mitchell Harrison (Husqvarna)
9. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
10. Christian Craig (Honda)

250SX Class Western Regional Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 92
2. Shane McElrath, KTM, 91
3. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 87
4. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 77
5. Christian Craig, Honda, 70
6. Chase Sexton, Honda, 69
7. Mitchell Oldenburg, Yamaha, 58
8. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 58
9. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 53
10. Bradley Taft, Yamaha, 51

 

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January 21, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Savatgy Wins and Moves Into Tie for Points Lead in Anaheim

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy earned his first win of the season during the first-ever triple crown format on Saturday night inside Angels Stadium. Savatgy's two main event wins and one second place finish gave him a comfortable lead over the runner-up. The win also pushed Savatgy into a tie for the points lead after three rounds. Teammate Cianciarulo narrowly missed the podium with his 4-5-2 score that resulted in fourth. Cianciarulo currently sits fifth in the points standings.

Joey Savatgy

The new format had riders racing three separate main events, making starts critical. In each Main Event, Savatgy put his Kawasaki KX250F near the front of the pack. Main Event 1 was a wire-to-wire win for Savatgy, while he narrowly missed the win by only three seconds in Main Event 2. The final main event forced Savatgy be smart and wait for the right moment to pass, which came with four laps remaining. His 1-2-1 olympic scoring put him five points ahead of second place, making for a consistent and impressive victory.

"Starts were pretty critical with this format and we were able to get three really good ones," said Savatgy. "The win feels really good. It's been a long road to get back here and we've put in a lot of work. I've been in this position before (holding the red plate) and I just need to find a flow and focus on staying consistent."

Adam Cianciarulo

Cianciarulo had a good start to the day, qualifying second. Even with a crash in practice he lined up ready to collect a solid finish. Like his teammate, he got off to some great starts, including in Main Event 1. He ran with the front runners and finished fourth. In Main Event 2, Cianciarulo had to come through the pack and finished the race in fifth. The final and longest main event of the evening was Cianciarulo's best. Even after starting outside the top five, he charged to the front and finished the 12 minutes plus one lap race only 0.2 seconds behind Savatgy.

"It was a rollercoaster day, but I'm glad I was able to put in three solid motos," said Cianciarulo. "I finially started feeling really good in that third moto and chipped away at the lead. I was so close to getting on the podium, which is great after having a rough practice session with the crash."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results

1. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki), 1-2-1
2. Shane McElrath (KTM), 5-1-4
3. Christian Craig (Honda), 2-3-5
4. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki), 4-5-2
5. Mitchell Oldenburg (Yamaha), 3-6-6
6. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha), 6-4-7
7. Hayden Mellross (Yamaha), 7-10-8
8. Chase Sexton (Honda), 15-8-3
9. Phil Nicoletti (Suzuki), 8-7-11
10. Justin Hill (Suzuki), 11-9-9

250SX Class Western Regional Points Standings

1. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 68
2. Shane McElrath, KTM, 68
3. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 66
4. Christian Craig, Honda, 57
5. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 56
6. Mitchell Oldenburg, Yamaha, 52
7. Chase Sexton, Honda, 51
8. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 42
9. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha, 39
10. Hayden Mellross, Yamaha, 34

 

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January 14, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Savatgy Earns First Podium Finish of the Season

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy overcame an ever-changing track inside NRG Stadium to earn his first podium of the season, finishing second in the Main Event. Round 2 started out well for teammate Adam Cianciarulo with the fastest qualifier and heat race win, but a few mistakes pushed him back to finish seventh in the Main Event.

Joey Savatgy

To start the night, Savatgy grabbed third in the Heat Race, giving him a solid gate pick for the Main Event. When the gate dropped, he shot his Kawasaki KX250F to the holeshot and led the field around the first lap. He held onto the lead for over half the race, but with a deteriorating track Savatgy raced on the safe side to collect valuable championship points - finishing second.

"I felt like I was riding fast to be comfortable on that track," said Savatgy. "I seemed to catch lappers at a bad spot not allowing me to catch first, but I didn't want to ride over my head in only the second round of the season. The track changed every lap so it was challenging to pick up time, so in the end I'm really happy to get second."

Adam Cianciarulo

Cianciarulo entered the second round with confidence as he came off a podium finish in Anaheim. He adapted to the track quickly, qualifying first and earning his first heat race win of the season. In the Main Event, Cianciarulo rocketed out to third on the start. Keeping the front runners close, Cianciarulo pushed hard and made a mistake right around the halfway mark. He got up very quick, only losing a few spots and made up the time with his quick speed. With two laps left, Cianciarulo made another small mistake and was forced to finish seventh in Houston.

"I know the track was really tough, but it stings a little bit when I was feeling good all day," said Cianciarulo. "It was a big learning experience forme as I adapt more to the hard-packed race tracks that change so much over the course of 15 minutes. I know I can bounce back next weekend in Anaheim so I'm looking forward to it."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results

1. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
2. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
3. Chase Sexton (Honda)
4. Shane McElrath (KTM)
5. Christian Craig (Honda)
6. Mitchell Olenburg (Yamaha)
7. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
8. Bradley Taft (Yamaha)
9. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)
10. Justin Hill (Suzuki)

250SX Class Western Regional Points Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 49
2. Shane McElrath, KTM, 45
3. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 42
4. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 37
5. Chase Sexton, Honda, 36
6. Christian Craig, Honda, 36
7. Mitchell Oldenburg, Yamaha, 34
8. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 29
9. Bradley Taft, Yamaha, 27
10. Kyle Chisholm,Yamaha, 27

 

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January 7, 2018

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cianciarulo and Savatgy Impress With Opening Round Rides

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team started the 2018 season at Angel Stadium with two of its veterans behind the gate, resulting in a third-place podium finish for Adam Cianciarulo and a fourth-place for Joey Savatgy. With all the nerves of the opening round behind them, the duo found themseves just five and seven points off the championship leader, respectively.

Adam Cianciarulo

Cianciarulo had been campaigning to ride the west coast for some time and he proved he was up to the task with a great overall day at Round 1. The Floridian adapted quickly to the slick dirt and demanding track, qualifying second during timed practice. In his heat race, Cianciarulo showed some aggressive riding as he passed for second on the final lap.

In the main event, Cianciarulo was shuffled outside the top five on the start and was forced to push through the pack. With the track being slick and often one-lined, it took a little longer than he hoped to make it past riders, but was able to get into third by the fifth of 18 laps. He held on despite the deteriorating track and earned third - his fifth podium in 16 supercross starts.

"Tonight we got off to a good start and it's nice to get some good points," said Cianciarulo. "I can't be overly stoked on third because I know I'm capable of more, but I was pretty nervous being a part of the very first race of the season for the first time and all the nerves that come with that. I think we are in a good spot for the rest of the season."

Joey Savatgy

Savatgy's last Western Regional campaign was in 2015 where he finished runner-up in the championship. He was more than ready to put in a consistent finish at the opening round. It started with a third-place qualifying position, and like his teammate finished second in his heat. Savatgy had a bit of work to do in the main event after starting eighth, but didn't let that stop him from pushing to the front. Just after halfway, Savatgy passed for fourth where he would end the night.

"Anaheim is one of those races where you feel especially good when you leave healthy and with a solid result," said Savatgy. "With all that could go wrong at an opening race like an injury or bad finish, I felt like we put in a good ride overall and have things we can use to build off of for next weekend. We'll go home and put in the work to come back even stronger in Houston."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results

1. Shane McElrath (KTM)
2. Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha)
3. Adam Cianciarulo (Kawasaki)
4. Joey Savatgy (Kawasaki)
5. Christian Craig (Honda)
6. Mitchell Olenburg (Yamaha)
7. Justin Hill (Suzuki)
8. Chase Sexton (Honda)
9. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
10. Kyle Chisholm (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Regional Points Standings

1. Shane McElrath, KTM, 26
2. Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha, 23
3. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki, 21
4. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki, 19
5. Christian Craig, Honda, 18
6. Mitchell Olenburg, Yamaha, 17
7. Justin Hill, Suzuki, 16
8. Chase Sexton, Honda, 15
9. Justin Cooper, Yamaha, 14
10. Kyle Chisholm,Yamaha, 13