Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/917325
PRO MOTOCROSS 250MX CHAMPION AND SUPERCROSS 250SX EAST CHAMPION P120 INTERVIEW was going to see me and be like, 'I need to wake it up for two laps and win this championship.'" But Savatgy didn't. As Os- borne drove through the whoops for the last time and dived to the inside of Savatgy in the second- to-last corner of the race, collid- ing with his rival and sending him to the ground, the crowd erupt- ed. As Osborne crossed the fin- ish line and began to celebrate, the whole crowd stood in awe, staring at each other as if to confirm that they indeed just wit- ness what they witnessed. It was one of the greatest moments in supercross history, and it came from one of the most unlikely champions in history as well. "It was a shocker to me, the whole time," Osborne said. "I've watched the race start-to-finish probably 50 times, bits and pieces more than that. It's an insane race. So many people have come up to me and said this was the greatest race ever in supercross, and I'm like, 'But I got seventh!' I'm not trying to downplay it in any way, but it's bi- zarre to me to hear that after the trials and tribulations of my early career and stuff. Just to kind of be that guy now is pretty surreal, really, still." CONTROVERSY ENSUES Yet, despite the amazing race and the astounding result, pro- tests came flying into the AMA truck from Kawasaki and Sa- vatgy's Pro Circuit team. "I understand that emotions were high and there were a lot of pissed off people about the pass or whatever," Osborne said. "It was a tough pass, but it's for so much more than just that posi- tion. It's for a championship, and glory, and even financially, and the years to come. Even Joey, he's admitted that in that situa- tion he would have done exactly the same. It's a tough racing call. I had already had the other run-in with Adam [Cianciarulo, Savatgy's teammate] during the season, which also was a little bit of a bummer. Like I said, it's just a tough call, flat out." Osborne was worried the AMA would take his title. "When I went in there, I was pretty nervous as to what they were going to do," Osborne said. "So when they decided to fine me, even though I still didn't think it was right, I was just happy they didn't take my championship, so I just got out of there." BACKING IT UP OUTDOORS With all of that behind him, Os- borne was an odds-on favorite to win outdoors. Carrying the momentum from the biggest mo- ment in his career, and possibly ever, along with his fitness from working at the Baker's Factory, Osborne set out on a mission, going 1-1 at the season opener at Hangtown. Interestingly, he didn't get another 1-1 during the entire championship until the final round in Indiana, after he had already sewn up the title. "The first round and the last round were like pretty much kind of dream situation," Osborne said. "Good starts at the front, kind of battle for a little bit, and then go away. The last round es- pecially was really good. I was su- per comfortable on the track and just got two really good starts. But during the middle of the sea- son, my starts were mediocre at best. They were kind of midpack. I got a lot of seconds, thirds, fourths, but I felt like I fought so hard for those positions. Washou- gal I fell in the second corner and got up and got fourth in a moto. That was definitely the hardest moto I had all year because I felt like my heart rate was through the roof. I actually threw up after the moto because I was so exhaust- ed. It was just a tough day. There were a lot of Saturdays where I was like, 'Man, that was freaking tough. I really don't want to repeat this "bad starts" deal anymore.' But I did. That just continued week-in and week-out. For the last round, we changed some stuff with my starts, with a little bit more rpms, and that made things a lot better. I don't know how we got away from that during the season, but we did. I defi- nitely wish I had those first- and last-round starts the whole year. I think it would have been a heck of a lot easier on me." But sometimes things just seem destined to happen de- spite circumstances. At Millville, Osborne's bike began to smoke just past halfway in the first