Monday Conversation: Zach Osborne
Monday, September 24, 2012 | 2:10 PM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintAmerican Zach Osborne of the Bike-It Monster Yamaha team had a very good German Grand Prix as he captured second place overall in the MX2 Class. It was nice for Osborne to end his Grand Prix career with a spot on the podium. Osborne is coming back home next year to race for the GEICO Honda team in SX/MX but before that, he’s got the Motocross of Nations this weekend for Team Puerto Rico. The day after the race, Osborne rang us up to talk shop.
Racer X: Zach, great job at the race. Can you tell us about it?
Zach Osborne: It was pretty good but I wish I didn’t have a bad second moto. I got top five start and worked my way up into third and then got hit in the goggle lens with a rock and it popped out. I slowed down once I got dirt in there to clean it out and got busy trying to catch back up. I eventually passed into second and had about 15 minutes to go to catch Tommy Searle but I wasn’t able to. I felt pretty good, I had good speed and felt like I had something for Tommy in the second moto. But I got a bad start, somewhere around twentieth, and then when I was up to around eighth I fell again and had to start all over.
So I put my head down and passed back up as best I could. I charged all the way up to fourth which is pretty good considering my start, my crash and the fact that I almost gave up on it all at one point. So I’m happy with the result considering I had a lot of big moments out there where I almost crashed.
Zach Osborne said goodbye to the GPs with a second place finish in Germany.
Yamaha photo
So you wrapped up your GP career in style with a second and that’s it, your GP career is over. How you handling that?
Yeah, it’s a little sad because I never thought when I came here it would be hard to leave, but it is. It’s actually quite hard to say bye and I’ve met a lot of great people who have shaped my career here and it’s hard to know I won’t see them for a while.
Yeah, going to Europe really saved your career and if it wasn’t for doing that, you might be working at a 7-11 today.
Yeah, 7-11 or maybe the local Starbucks for me. I could see myself there.
You have the Motocross of Nations coming up, you looking forward to that?
Yeah, definitely. It’s the Motocross des Nations, the biggest stage for motocross and I’m excited to ride for PR [Puerto Rico]. I think we have a real good shot at getting into the A final and going from there. I think we just need to focus individually on doing our personal best only and not worry about the other guys. I’d like to be on the MX2 podium individually and top ten overall.
Sand isn’t exactly your forte though Zach…
Ah, don’t write me off.
I saw that your team owner Steve Dixon wasn’t able to be there to watch your last race as he had to have surgery on his back. How is he?
Yeah, he’s okay. He sort of neglects himself all the time to say the least and he’s had a few back problems over there years and on Friday it all came to a head where he had to go to the hospital. He ended up having three slipped discs in his back and has to stay there for five or six days but I hope to see him at Lommel.
Bummer he couldn’t be there for your last race for him.
Definitely, and my teammate Arnaud Tonus was on the podium also so it was a good day for the team and he wasn’t able to be there. We were all wishing he could have been there.
So what’s your deal for coming back here and getting started with GEICO Honda?
I head back to America October 2, and then I’ll get busy testing sometime in the beginning of November and we’ll work forward from there.
Osborne will be back in the States next year riding for GEICO Honda.
Yamaha photo
Do you know what coast you’ll be riding yet?
No, it’s a little early for that Matthes.
I’m pretty bummed about that because I’ve worked hard to make that mine again and now I have to give it up. I’ll be somewhere around number 67 and that’s cool, if I have to be two-digits, I like it to be in the 60’s somewhere because I think that’s the coolest one out there.
What did you think of Ken Roczen’s performance in the MX1 Class?
I think it was pretty good, I expected him to be there or maybe even win. I think he’s a better big bike guy and I thought he’d maybe get an edge by being in Germany in front of his home fans and maybe be able to beat (Antonio) Cairoli. They were nuts, they were all there to see Ken. I thought that would do the trick but he wasn’t able to do it. It was a great result for him but I thought he’d do a bit better to be honest.
Did you like this article?
Check out LONE STAR RISING
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
The James Stewart Freestone AMA Spring Classic in Texas has quickly earned a place on the list of must-attend springtime amateur events. Page 182.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
The Snack Pack is Back!
The REAL three-three-eight
Sheesh Matthes whats the big idea here? Your telling him that going to the GPs saved his career.... telling him sand is not his forte........ Why do you say that? I remember racing with Zack when he was on his KTM 85 at Raceway Park in NJ every summer, man he was fast. I cannot wait to see how he does when he comes back. He did really good in the few west lites rounds that he did last year. Matthes, maybe you should get a job at 7-11 or starbucks...... you look like you go there all the time haha!
Never been a great Osborne fan, but I got to say he´s put in some great rides this year. He´s improved beyond recognition though since he first came over here, so it will be interesting to see how he goes in the outdoors next year.
I definitely think he´ll be in the mix, maybe not at the very pointy end, but not a long way off either. A bit like here actually.
Don't know anyone could NOT be a fan of Zach's, he's a class act and will be missed in the GP's and on the British scene.
Podium guy indoors and out
JimM
Pala374
Congrats Zach, can't wait to see churn some dirt here in the go'ol USA!
Isn't the original 338 Donny "Can He Loop It"?
Actually the only retard is you René. Were you were adopted? That might account for your apparent inferiority complex. Either that of you were/still are relentlessly bullied at school.
Irish/EuroMike isnt a fan because Zach is an American, and Irish/Euro Mike is a BIGOT..
Even the GP riders HATE Irish/EuroMike-- I remember when Marvin Musquin actually came on this site himself and told Irish/EuroMike to go away and quit being a douchebag.. It was great.. Musquin said he loves the USA and the fans and didnt want a bigot like Irish/EuroMike to ruin that for him being his fan.. And told him to go away and leave him out of his responses.. It was awesome..
And Irish/EuroMike said Musquin will destroy the US riders too.. So Irish/EuroMike jumped off the Musquin bandwagon and onto the Roczen bandwagon.. I cant wait until Roczen runs Irish/EuroMike off too.. Seems to me the American and the Euro's hate Irish/EuroMike all the same..Even the Euro riders know he is a douchebag.. LOL!!
How many know that Zach's dad is a former NHRA champion? While Zach and his mom were at Mega Series races, Mark would be somewhere doing 200+ mph in a Pro Stock dragster.
What's wrong with you people? How does an article about Zach Osbourne turn into a negative posting session. The guy works hard, has no ego, lost his career and out of the blue gets called up and asked to do some riding in Europe, goes over there and hangs it all out, comes back to the states and completely surprises everyone in SX, including the staff here at Racer X, and somehow, someway, somebody doesn't like this guy? UNREAL.
Everyone hates euromike including his kin.
I love Zack.
Looking forward to seeing ZO flying the red flag for my boys over at Factory Connection (and, I guess, Geico) Honda!
@ therealmofo, I'm sorry I missed that. Too bad euromike brings the worst out of his postings and other people.
Very cool Zach gets to come home to a top-tier team. I'm not bashing mind you, I just think anyone racing Yamahas right now is fighting an uphill battle. Great showing on the final G.P. (of the year or of his career?).
Hopefully, they will put Bell & Osborne on different coasts / regions 'cause there might be such a thing as "Too much Zach"...............we will see. If they don't, I'm claiming the pitchline "The Zach & Zach one-two podium attack". STAMP IT.
So, I said I wasn´t a great fan. That´s the same as saying I don´t like the guy? Jeez, wake up guys. Give your empty heads a shake. Zak has always conducted himself like a real gentleman (unlike you bunch of retarded hill billies) and as a person he is well respected over here. We all wish him every success in the USA.
Gooooo Zak. LOL.
Gee Claxton, you don´t like me?????? Me????? You don´t like me??????? And I thought you were my main bud. Hell, I´m totally devastated. In fact I feel so bad I might kill myself.
PS. Mavelous Marvin sent me an email apologising for calling me out and asked me to lay off you guys. OK Mav I get it.
Vous êtes frais bro. Je ne vais pas mentionner votre nom.
EuroMike, do you live in America or Europe? I love that Musquin sent you an email apologizing......haha. As George Costanza says, "it's not a lie if you believe it". Ya gotta believe EuroMike. Weren't you supposed to stay off this site forever after proclaiming a U.S. loss last year?
It's funny that the US Team would also beat in points their "euro dream team" in 2010 (Cairoli MX1, Musquin MX2, Dessale Open) and 2011 (Cairoli MX1, Roczen MX2, Pourcel Open) , maybe Luongo will change the rules, 6 best resuts for the US against the single best result for the euro teams ...
and thanks RacerX to deleting all my posts (but I understand) and for protecting the eurozozos cowards who bring the hate here
Finally, get back to your local Iraqi mental hospital
Rene-posts get deleted and Racer X allows Euro/IrishMike to continue to post on here?? Wow what hypocrites they are..
@therealhomo, there´s a world of difference to what I write and what that douche bag writes. Insulting another posters mother is way over the line. I don´t and never will lower myself to that level. Sure I take the piss and make fun of what you yanks hold sacred, but I never get personal. Can you spot the difference?