Page 44 - GRIT_76

ZACH OSBORNE
250 SX / 7TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> For Zach Osborne, entering Las Vegas with a comfortable points lead this year had to feel
so much better than last year when he entered tied for second, one point behind the leader. He
felt such a wide range of emotions during last season’s unbelievable nale that he probably knew exactly how to handle it this time around. Experience and consistency were key for Osborne during his quest for his second straight 250SX East Coast championship. He used them both to outduel early title contender, Austin Forkner. Forkner gave Osborne all he had until he ultimately got injured but Osborne was able to weather every storm Forkner threw at him while he was healthy. He did not fall for the trap and lose focus. He stayed the course and showed everyone the true champion he is. He was determined to not get dethroned, even despite the late season rallies by both Jordon Smith and Jeremy Martin. He still waltzed into Las Vegas up fteen on second place Smith, a much easier assignment than a year ago.
Osborne was not messing around in qualifying practice. He showed everyone that he is not going to snap under any pressure. He threw down the fastest lap time of his coast and the second fastest overall between both coasts. It would certainly be his championship to lose heading into the night of racing.
Osborne kicked things off in his heat race by starting comfortably in fourth place. He made quick work of Sean Cantrell to move into third and make it a three-way battle for the lead between his teammate Michael Mosiman and Jordon Smith. Mosiman did a ne job keeping both riders behind him but on lap three Osborne would prevail and take the spot away passing both him and Smith for the lead. Once he got up front, it was not smooth sailing like it usually is. Smith was determined to pass him back and he came close on occasions, but Osborne would keep it steady and bring home the heat race victory. All signs were pointing to another championship heading into the main. Osborne’s heart rate likely spiked right off the get go in the main event. He came out of the rst corner buried mid-pack but fought his way to ninth by the end of the opening lap. He knew he just needed a few more spots to be comfortable and he did just that by hopping into seventh on lap two. From there, he just put it in cruise control and rode mistake free. That is all he needed to do. He completed the remainder of the fteen minutes plus a lap there in seventh place and it was more than enough to earn him his second 250SX East Coast Championship! It was a much less dramatic and intense nish to the series than the previous one, but it means just the same. All of Osborne’s hard work is coming to fruition in the past twelve months as he has now won the last three champi- onships that he has competed in.
44 GRITMOTO • MAY 6, 2018