Page 38 - Issue43

ZACH OSBORNE
250 SX / 3RD
IMAGE / LANGSTON WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Zach Osborne asserted himself as the man to beat in the 250 East SX class from the very first gate drop of the season in Minneapolis; he wasn’t able to win that night, but he displayed unreal speed and comfortability on the motorcycle that couldn’t be replicated by any of his rivals. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider took control of the red plate shortly thereafter and never looked back, but unfortunately the cruelty of the sport reared it’s
ugly head last weekend in Detroit -- Osborne encountered a first corner pileup that bent his front brake rotor, forced him to pull into the mechanics area, and he was only able to salvage an eighteenth position. Although he earned two valuable points in the champion- ship, he lost the red plate and he’s looking at a nine point deficit in the title hunt heading into St. Louis. Osborne was able to overcome the flu-like symptoms that he was dealing with in days prior to the race by scoring the second fastest qualifying time heading into the night show. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider had to battle through the first couple
of corners after pulling the holeshot in his heat race -- Jordon Smith ran it up the inside
of him in the second corner, but Osborne was able to retaliate shortly afterwards. Over
the course of the next couple laps, he was able to grow his advantage in the lead and secure another heat race victory this season. In the main event, the Virginia native didn’t do himself any favors out of the starting gate as he did his best to battle for a place within the top ten through the first corner. Osborne utilized his veteran race craft in order to cross the finish line in eighth position on the opening lap, but he wasted no time in progressing further. On the very next lap, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider managed to force his way into fifth position, working his way past a gaggle of riders with a burst of aggression. Osborne’s speed was obviously not affected by his illness prior to the weekend of rac-
ing, as he carved his way through the pack in the early stages of the moto with relative ease. It only took two laps for him to dispose of the Kawasaki duo of Adam Cianciarulo and Gannon Audette, promoting himself into third position in pursuit of his main champion- ship combatants. Osborne showed the speed to run with Smith and Savatgy at the front
of the field, but he admittedly ran out of gas in the late stages of the race. He was able to salvage crucial points for the championship and remains in close contention heading into the break preceding the eighth round of action in New Jersey.
38 GRITMOTO • APRIL 2, 2017