Slaw
While we wait to see where Chase Sexton lands, the long rumored Joey Savatgy to Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Ducati deal was made official on Thursday.
After spending the last two years with Quad Lock Honda, the 450 veteran makes the move to the Italian brand to pair alongside RJ Hampshire on a multi-year deal.
“I am very excited for this change and honored for this opportunity,” said Savatgy. “I had a good year, and to have a factory team look in my direction and reach out is rewarding. Considering the last few years haven’t been the greatest for me, I think we showed a lot this year and proved that, with the right team around me, we’re able to achieve good results.
“To be back on a factory team is exciting, and I think the resources we have are a huge advantage. There are a lot of doors we can open, things we can experiment with, and opportunities to find what works best. I’m excited to get the ball rolling, have a full offseason boot camp, so to speak, and get to know everybody on the team. It’s going to be a good year.”
Originally from Thomasville, Georgia, Savatgy began his professional racing career in 2013 and quickly established himself as a championship contender in the 250 class. He narrowly missed capturing the 2016 250SX East Championship, finishing runner-up, and spent several seasons competing at the front of the highly competitive 250 class before making his 450 debut in 2019.
In his rookie 450SX season, Savatgy earned 450SX Rookie of the Year honors and recorded multiple top-five finishes. Since moving to the premier class, he has accumulated 13 career top-five finishes, including a fourth-place finish at the Philadelphia Supercross in 2026. He recorded five top-five finishes during the 2026 season alone, alongside 12 total top-10 finishes, and finished inside the top 10 in the 2026 Supercross championship standings.
The team will feature an all-new lineup in 2027, as Justin Barcia signed with HEP Suzuki and Dylan Ferrandis retired from professional racing this off-season. Next year will mark the second full season in the SuperMotocross World Championship for the iconic brand.
