Osborne Joins
AmPro Yamaha
Z
ach Osborne is coming out
of retirement to race off-road
full-time in 2023. The former
250cc Supercross and 450cc
Pro Motocross Champion has
joined the AmPro Yamaha Team
and will compete in the XC2 class
in GNCC and select U.S. Sprint
Enduro races aboard Yamaha's
latest YZ250FX.
"I'm super excited and grateful
for this opportunity," said Os-
borne. "My first conversation with
Randy [Hawkins] about joining
his team and the off-road com-
munity dates all the way back to
the end of 2007, so for this to
come to fruition at a time when
I was looking for
a new opportu-
nity is just super
cool! I'm excited
to get the season
started in a few
short months,
and I hope to
make the team and our sponsors
proud. I've been back to full-time
training for about six weeks now
and things are responding well
heading into the holidays and my
January training camp!"
Ricky Russell returns as the
team's top man in GNCC. Russell,
who rode for KTM the past two
years, will compete for the GNCC
title in the premier XC1 division,
and he will also compete in select
U.S. Sprint Enduro races.
Liam Draper will team up with
Osborne in the GNCC XC2 class,
and will also compete in the Pro 2
class in AMA National Enduro.
Rachael Archer will return to
defend her title in the GNCC's
WXC Championship.
CN
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 6, 2022 P21
Zach Osborne will
compete in the XC2
class in GNCC next
year on the AmPro
Yamaha Team.
FMF KTM Factory
Racing Team Welcomes
Two New Off-Roaders
M
ateo Oliveira and Johnny
Girroir will make their racing
debuts as members of the FMF
KTM Factory Racing Team in
2023.
Highlighting the team's return-
ing lineup is reigning WORCS
and NGPC Champion Dante
Oliveira, multi-time champ Taylor
Robert, U.S. Hard Enduro Cham-
pion Trystan Hart and former
GNCC champ Ben Kelley.
Kelley and Girroir will lead the
team's east effort, with Kelley
on a 350 XC-F in the GNCC
XC1 division and in the
National Enduro Cham-
pionship. Girroir will also
compete in the XC1 class
in GNCC, as well as the
U.S. Sprint Enduro Series. He,
too, will ride a 350 XC-F.
Dante Oliveira will focus on
the West Hare Scrambles and
NGPC Championships, while
his younger brother, Mateo, will
move up to the 450cc class in
NGPC and WORCS.
Hart will defend his AMA U.S
Hard Enduro Championship and
go after the AMA EnduroCross
title. Hart will also compete at the
famous Erzberg Rodeo.
Robert will compete in various
races throughout the year with a
focus on the ISDE.
The team also joined a partner-
ship with Ranch Russell for its
official training program.
CN
Mateo Oliveira and Johnny Girroir join
the FMF KTM Factory squad.
