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ZACHARY OSBORNE
250 MX / 1ST
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / TILLS
>> After successfully wrapping up the championship last weekend at Budd’s Creek, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider, Zach Osborne arrived at Ironman ready to prove to everyone why he was truly deserving of being crowned this year’s 250 class champion. The sun was high in the Crawfordville, Indiana sky as riders and umbrella toting mechanics lined up for the twelfth and final round of the season. Anticipated fans filled the valleys and hills along the perimeter of the track as thirty-second board went up. The gates fell and the number 16 machine came out swinging, sitting in the third place spot as he came careening out of the rutted first corner. After a mistake by the leader, Jeremy Martin, Osborne quickly found himself sitting in second place behind the young Adam Cianciarulo and the battle was officially on. With an overall victory last weekend and a collection of fastest qualifying practice times in his corner, a confident AC was not shy to put up a fight as the champ started closing in on him. Lap after lap, the excitement was unwavering at Ironman as Osborne and Ciancia- rulo continued to push their limits on the constantly changing Indiana terrain. In usual “end of the moto” Zach Osborne fashion, the fire that was burning within him became even more ablaze and on lap nine he was able to move into the first place position. After making the pass, Osborne was able to really zone in and create a gap in his lead by the time the checkered flag flew. After a hard earned first moto win, Osborne lined up for the second race of the day hungry for another victory. The gates dropped and the drag race to the first turn was underway. Cianciarulo found incredible mo- mentum off the start and grabbed the Holeshot, but Zach Osborne was right behind him and ready to strike. Osborne quickly made the pass on the first lap and was then able to truly ride his own race as he pulled further and further away from his competi- tors. With a great first moto battle resulting in a win, a tremendous second moto lead and win, and a very much deserved championship title in his hands, Zach Osborne had to have left Indiana with a huge smile on his face. It’s been an incredible season for Zach and I’m sure all of us are on the edge of our seats ready to see his talent shine as he leads Team USA at the prestigious Motocross Des Nations.
30 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 27, 2017