Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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CHAMPION ZACH OSBORNE VOL. 54 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 19, 2017 P117 teurs to take your place. When things dried up for Osborne, he headed to Europe. After a half-decade or so, with some success (podiums, but no wins), Osborne found his way back to the States for the open- ing four rounds of Supercross. On a Yamaha built by his GP team, Osborne went 9-6-3-3 in the first four rounds of the series and sat third in points. This piqued the interest of the Geico Honda team, where Osborne raced the next two years before switching to the Rock- star Energy Husqvarna team in 2015. During this period of time, podiums were the new normal, but wins still weren't happening, and after 10 years of racing, if you haven't started winning yet, nor- mally it's just not going to happen. But Zach Osborne isn't normal. This year, Osborne won his first AMA Supercross, followed by the championship, and then did likewise outdoors, winning his second-ever event at round one, and then taking the title. The path to elite status was ardu- ous and daunting, but Osborne took it as it came, and his persis- tence paid off big-time in 2017. "Opportunity-wise, I've always kind of been there and been solid," Osborne said. "Mainly, I've been easy to deal with I think from a team aspect, mostly. So I think that was one thing. I've al- ways been there for podiums and top fives and that kind of thing pretty much regularly, I would say. But just the last couple years I've kind of found an obsession in just becoming the best I can pos- sibly be and seeing what I can do with it, really. Before it was more like I was just—I don't know. I really can't explain it. It was like I was kind of just trying to make a living and do the best I can and just kind of go with what comes at me. The last two or three years I've been kind of charging it head-on. I feel like that's been the biggest change or difference for me from a personal stand- point, for sure." Confidence built over the last few years and really started to grow coming into 2017 as Osborne's training and riding at the Baker's Factory with Husky/ KTM teammates Ryan Dungey, Marvin Musquin, and Jason Anderson really got him into the proper head space for winning. "I'm not sure that there's a 'knowing you can' in terms of winning," Osborne said. "Even as I sit here today as a two-time champion, I'm already nervous about whether I can do it again for next year. I think even at the tiptop there's not a point where I rolled up this year and I was like, 'I'm definitely going to win this moto.' It's motocross and there are so, so, so many factors and things that can happen that are out of your control. It's just a very different sport as a whole compared to a lot of other sports out there." But while he rejects the idea of knowing he can—which may serve just as much as self-moti- vation as anything—he definitely knows belief in himself is a nec- essary part of a winning formula. "Oh yeah, I believe I can, but it's not like I'm sitting at home on the couch chilling waiting for the season to come," Osborne said. "I'm already starting to prepare again and nervous. Trying to just be my best and make it happen all over again. I feel like almost knowing you can win would be a bad thing, because you're going to be almost a little bit complacent or just not quite firing on all cylin- ders because you feel 'above it' or whatever. For me, I try to just stay on the ground and keep working." "The last couple years I've kind of found an obsession in just becoming the best I can possibly be."