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ZACH OSBORNE WINS PRO MOTO CHAMPIONSHIP
The Season That Almost Wasn’t STORY BY: SHAUN OCHSNER PHOTOS: COURTESY ALIGN MEDIA
It almost didn’t happen. Early this year, the traditional outdoor motocross season, summer pandemic froze Supercross mid season. The began to look promising as states allowed future remained uncertain as to when racing limited events and lockdowns were lifted. would resume. The outdoor motocross season The schedule was adjusted several times couldn’t even get started until Supercross and fans were allowed to attend events with was finished. For weeks, no one knew when strict COVID protocols in place that included that would be as the lockdown continued for mandatory masks, hand sanitizing stations and weeks. A plan was hatched to finish out the social distancing. Access to the paddock areas final rounds of Supercross in Salt Lake City, were extremely limited to protect riders and Utah in just three weeks during the month crews. of June. Already past the start date of the
Racing finally got underway in August with nine rounds on the schedule. Zach Osborne earned his first 450 class victory at the opening round at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Dylan Ferrandis swept both motos in the 250 class.
A second weekend of racing was added at the Loretta Lynn Ranch after rising COVID cases forced the cancellation of Washougal National in Washington State. Zach Osborne was back on the podium after a wild rainy afternoon of racing. Dylan Ferrandis also made it to the podium in Moto 2.
ABOVE: Zach Osborne earns his first win of the Pro Motocross season.
Eli Tomac took the overall win at the Ironman National in Crawfordsville, Indiana as Ferrandis continued to extend his points lead. Zach Osborne was back atop the podium the following weekend in a series first doubleheader at the Red Bud National. The weeks wound down and Osborne’s points lead continued to grow. 44 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM
Four wins and six podium finishes later, Osborne became the 25th rider to earn the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. 31-year old Osborne also made history as the oldest rider to win a Pro Motocross Championship in the history of the sport. Osborne finished 12 points ahead of closest competitor Adam Cianciarulo.
Dylan Ferrandis also broke records winning the 250 Championship and becoming the first rider from France to hold such a title.
ABOVE: Zach Osborne’s team celebrates a hard earned victory. BELOW: Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis won the 250 championship.
