Racing

Zach Osborne's Day At Budds Creek | MX 2016

Zach Osborne went 4-1 for 1st overall at round 11.

August 24, 2016

Zach Osborne went 4-1 for 1st overall at Budds Creek for Rockstar Husqvarna’s first outdoor overall win ever. Zach was able to come back to win his first overall outdoor race at the track that bit him 10 years ago when he lead for almost 20 minutes and faded back to 18th place in moto 1. Zach said it’s very ironic that he was able to win his first overall outdoor win at Budds Creek ten years later. We will take you through Zach’s day from the first practice to his unique victory celebration on the top step of the podium.

Zach’s Rockstar Husqvarna 250 sits under the tent before the first practice got underway at Budds Creek. Last week Zach had a mechanical DNF in both motos at Unadilla and said he had some harsh words with the team out of frustration, because of the four mechanical problem that he has had over the past three weeks. Zach believes if it wasn’t for those DNF’s he would be in the top three in points. Well, the team listened and came back with a strong bike that lead Zach to a overall win.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach went out in the first timed practice and turned a 2:03.225 on his second lap for the 3rd fastest time of the session. Zach looked good from the start of the first practice, and you could tell he was gelling with the track. Zach said that he believes this was the best the Budds Creek track has ever been prepped and was similar to a RedBud or Millville track. He said the track was soft, loamy and watered properly; they must have brought in a lot of sand this year.Photo By Rob Koy

In the second timed 15-minute session Zach wasn’t able to improve his time from the first session. Zach turned a 2:03.639 on his fourth lap for the 4th fastest time of the session. Zach still looked like he was flowing on the track as he crosses the finish line jump.Photo By Rob Koy

For the first moto, Zach had the 4th gate pick and decided to take the inside gate next to Adam Cianciarulo. This was a bold move on Zach’s part, but he said later that he always got good starts at Budds Creek and he likes the dirt here.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach got of to decent start in moto 1 with a 7th place start. Zach was able to move up a few positions into 4th place by the halfway mark of the race. Zach had to settle for 4th place because he did get a little overheated in the race and wanted to save some energy for the 2nd moto. Zach said that Joey Savagty was four seconds ahead of him and there was no sense in using himself up in the first moto.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach used a braking pump to pre jump into the slight left hander before you go over the tunnel jump. Only a few guys found this line, many were going either a little wider or to the way outside line.Photo By Rob Koy

In moto 2, Zach got a better start and was in 5th place after the first lap. Zach was able to get by rookie Bradley Taft on lap two for 3rd place. Zach then made an aggressive pass on Adam Cianciarulo by taking the line away from Adam.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach dropping down the hill by the old starting area at Budds. Zach was able to pass Austin Forkner in the rollers by the pits after jumping the first seth of doubles for the lead at the halfway point of the Moto.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach was able to pull away after passing Forkner and get a seven second lead in the second half of the moto. Zach swept to the outside down the hill to setup for the right turn before the mechanics' tent.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach didn’t now that he was in contention for the overall win until 2 laps to go when his mechanic put it on the pit board the following lap.Photo By Rob Koy

Zach went 4-1 for his first overall 250 outdoor victory at Budds Creek. Zach drenches himself with the champagne before spraying the the crowd. Zach said that his life is filled with a bunch of ironies and that it’s so fitting that he won his first victory at the track he had his meltdown ten years ago. Let's see if this victory can lead to another victory at Ironman next week.Photo By Rob Koy