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ZACH OSBORNE
250 SX / 1ST
IMAGE /MPG WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Zach Osborne has come into the 2017 East SX series in the best form of his career after as- cending to a new level with a win last weekend in Atlanta. The Rockstar Energy backed Husqvar- na rider has shown the speed since the very first practice session in Minneapolis, but wasn’t able to put the whole night together until last weekend when he took his first career Monster Energy Supercross victory. Osborne had a bit of a setback in the fall of 2016 as he sustained a broken wrist, but he didn’t let it affect his newly appointed program down at the Baker’s factory in Florida. The Virginian has stormed into the 2017 season with an unprecedented pace that he was able to carry with him north of the border -- Osborne set the fastest qualifying lap in both timed sessions as he commanded the rest of the field with a searing pace in the Rogers Centre. The unique first corner chicane didn’t play into Osborne’s favor in the second 250 heat race as he came out of the first corner mid-pack at best. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider wasted no time making his way to the head of the pack as he followed his main championship rival, Joey Savatgy, towards the front. Osborne was able to overtake Freddie Noren, Cameron McAdoo, Mitchell Harrison, and benefit from an R.J. Hampshire mishap to move into fourth position in just as many laps. He came through the pack with a purpose and eventually hounded Savatgy in the latter stages of the race, pressuring the Pro Circuit rider into a mistake. Osborne consequently inherited third place and was able to ride to an impressive podium finish by laying down a searing pace, setting the fastest lap time between both heat races with the only time below the fifty-seven second mark. In the main event, he got off to the sort of start that he’s accustomed to and commenced a very patiently executed race plan. Osborne started third behind Savatgy and Ferrandis, calmly gauging their speed and waiting for the opportune moment to pounce. The two of them diced back and forth for the lead while Osborne sat cooly in third position. Savatgy worked his way into the lead on the fifth lap and Osborne promptly followed, forcing his way past the Frenchman before the final rhythm section. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider rode a couple of laps in the shadow of Savatgy, marking his speed and watching his lines until the Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider made a mistake right before the finish line -- Osborne sprung on the opportunity and promoted himself to the lead of
the race. He picked up right where he left off when he won the main event in the Georgia Dome, ticking off blazing fast laps as he yarded his competition. Osborne accumulated an extremely com- fortable margin throughout the remainder of the seventeen laps, eventually cruising to the victory in style with a fist pump on the final lap. The Virginia native has gathered quite a bit of momentum over the course of the last two weekends as he now stands at two victories on the trot; Osborne will be looking to make it three in a row when the series heads south to the famed Daytona Inter- national Speedway for the next round of action.
32 GRITMOTO • MARCH 5, 2017