Osborne Takes Third Successive Grand Prix Podium
Zach Osborne is becoming hot property in the FIM Motocross World Championship paddock after his third consecutive rostrum finish at the fast and bumpy layout of Teutschenthal for the Grand Prix of Germany and the eighth round of fifteen in the 2010 series. The 20 year old from Virginia went 4-3 in front of a noisy 35,000 attendance under grey skies and subsequently moved up to 5th in the MX2 category thanks to his third spray of champagne on the bounce.
The Bike it Yamaha Cosworth rider defeated Red Bull KTM rivals and ‘neighbours’ in the standings Shaun Simpson and Jeffrey Herlings and was once more one of the fastest and most reactive participants in the frenetic class through the weekend.
A rutty track high on speed and low on overtaking opportunities saw Osborne taking his time to build up to full race pace during the first 35 minute and 2 lap sprint and the American even muted the rowdy public when we dared to catch and pass local darling Ken Roczen, securing 4th by the flag.
A lonelier ride to 3rd behind world champion Marvin Musquin ensured his trip to the post-race press conference.
"I was really surprised at how many German people were cheering me on when I was behind Ken," he joked afterwards. "Overall I was happy with the way I rode. My main goal this season was to stay injury-free and I knew the results would come. I think I have come to a peak in my fitness and my riding abilities are where they should be. I am happy with the way things are going with the team and the bike and I am enjoying the races. I was struggling to come through in the first moto and got lucky when Ken Roczen had to throw away his goggles. I did not quite gel with the track this weekend but overall it was a good GP and to have another podium. I want to try and stay consistent."
Osborne (who took trophies at Glen Helen and two weeks ago in France, not to mention being the only American winner of an MX2 Grand Prix with his success in Turkey last year) will now travel with his British team to Kegums for the Latvian stop on the calendar; a familiar course to the starlet before heading straight onto Uddevalla in Sweden: "I was junior world champion in Latvia in 2004 so that is a special place for me. Sweden will be new but then so was Teutschenthal and France two weeks ago. To be honest back home we have very little time to learn the tracks before we race on them so that is not a problem for me."
Photo courtesy of Yamaha
MX2 Overall Result
1. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 2. Ken Roczen (Suz); 3. Zach Osborne (Yam); 4. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 6. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 7. Christophe Charlier (Yam); 8. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 9. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 10. Khounsith Vongsana (KTM); 11. Harri Kullas (Yam);12. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 13. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 14. Joel Roelants (KTM); 15. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 16. Michael Leib (Kaw); 17. Alessando Lupino (Yam); 18. Martin Michek (TM); 19. Loic Larrieu (Yam); 20. Nikolaj Larsen (Hon);
MX2 World Championship standings after 8 of 15 rounds
1. Marvin Musquin (365); 2. Ken Roczen (288); 3. Steven Frossard (268); 4. Jeffrey Herlings (241); 5. Zach Osborne (233); 6. Shaun Simpson (225); 7. Arnaud Tonus (214); 8. Jeremy van Horebeek (209); 9. Joel Roelants (183); 10. Jake Nicholls (158); 11. Harri Kullas (158); 12. Christophe Charlier (130); 13. Dennis Verbruggen (127); 14. Alessandro Lupino (111); 15. Gautier Paulin (100); 16. Matiss Karro (71); 17. Valentin Teillet (65); 18. Nikolaj Larsen (53); 19. Khounsith Vongsana (43); 20. Mel Pocock (36);
