Joey Savatgy joins Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Ducati for 2027
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 29, 2026
Savatgy deal official
Joey Savatgy has a new home, and it gives Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing another proven 450 rider for 2027. The team made his multi-year deal official, and the move sends Savatgy from Quad Lock Honda to a full-factory Ducati ride. He will join RJ Hampshire as the second rider in what is shaping up as an all-new lineup for the program.
The move fits a clear arc in Savatgy’s career. He spent the previous two seasons with Quad Lock Honda and now gets a chance to step into a factory seat with Ducati. For a rider who has been in the sport for more than a decade, the signing brings a fresh opportunity at a new level. Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Ducati gets a rider who has spent years in the 450 ranks and has already shown he can run at the front when the season settles into a rhythm.
Savatgy also arrives with a résumé that gives the team more than simple name value. He began his professional career in 2013 and debuted in the 450 class in 2019, so he brings a long runway of experience to the program. That background matters for a team trying to build speed and stability at the same time. A factory deal in this class asks for more than raw pace. It asks for consistency, adaptation and the ability to bring points home across a full season. Ducati is betting on that blend of experience and current form to help anchor its next step.
Savatgy’s recent form
The timing of the move also makes sense because Savatgy has just turned in a strong 2026 season. He said he was excited to return to a factory program after a strong 2026 season, and the results back that up. He finished the Supercross season inside the top 10 in the standings, a solid marker in a class where depth and weekly speed can reshape the championship picture in a hurry. He also stacked up five top-five finishes during the year.
One of those results came with a fourth-place finish at Philadelphia Supercross. Across his career, Savatgy has collected 13 450SX top-five finishes, which puts the new deal into a wider context. This is not a speculative signing built on one hot round. It is a move for a rider who has already produced at the level Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Ducati wants to compete at.
That matters because the factory ride gives him another chance to build on what he did in 2026. The latest move gives him a full-factory Ducati seat. His recent results show why Ducati made the move.
Ducati’s 2027 lineup
Savatgy’s signing also completes a bigger reset for Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Ducati. The team is set for an all-new 2027 lineup, with Savatgy and Hampshire leading the way. That kind of change gives the organization a different look and a new competitive identity entering the season. It also places both riders in the spotlight from the start, since the team will be building around a fresh two-rider pairing.
The rest of the 2027 rider market shows how much movement is shaping the class. Justin Barcia signed with HEP Suzuki, and Dylan Ferrandis retired after the 2026 season. Those changes help explain why Ducati’s new setup stands out. Savatgy’s arrival adds another established name to the board, while Hampshire gives the team a partner on the other side of the garage. Together, they form the core of a lineup that will ask both riders to set the tone for the program.
For Savatgy, the move marks a new chapter. For Ducati, it gives the team another experienced 450 rider as it prepares for a new chapter. The signing brings immediate clarity to the roster and gives the program a base as it heads into 2027.
