Photo by: Todd Gutierrez
Heading into the opening round of the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross season in Anaheim, Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna’s Zach Osborne was near the top of everyone’s favorite list for the 250SX Western Regional Championship. Zach had come into the last couple of seasons nursing one injury or another, but this year, the veteran of the 250 class was healthy and poised to try and bring the Rockstar Energy Racing squad their second-straight 250SX Western Regional Championship.
Right out of the gate on Saturday afternoon, Zach showed podium speed, but his injury-free status would quickly change in his first heat race of the year. After passing Monster/PC/Kawsaki’s Tyler Bowers early in the heat race and taking the lead, he and Bowers got into a heated exchange for the lead that left Zach down and off the track. Zach remounted, finished 13th in his heat and later qualified for the main by winning the LCQ, but the damage was done. The #16 had broken his thumb in the collision and would have to tape it up, gut it out and go racing in the main event.
With the 19th gate pick in the main, Zach somehow grabbed a second place start in the main event and would hang on to finish right where he started. His 2nd place finish—while the best of his career—was bittersweet. After the race, an X-ray would reveal a break near the joint of his thumb, and if you’ve ever broken a thumb, you know the rest of Zach’s season is now in serious jeopardy. After the race, Zach said he would be in Phoenix, but that could all change after the swelling kicks in and after he sees a specialist this week to find out more.
After Zach’s career-best finish, we caught up with him in the pits to talk about his race, the Bowers incident and his thoughts on his now uncertain future in 2015. We also interviewed Bowers, so check back to get the other side of the story later. You can read what Zach had to say in the interview below.
Zach, second place finish on the night, but from talking to you earlier and seeing the wrap on the thumb, it’s got to be a bittersweet night. Was the thumb injury from the incident with Tyler [Bowers]?
Yeah, it’s from Bowers. We had an unfortunate deal in the heat race. It is what it is. I fractured my thumb near the joint and, like I said earlier, I should have closed the door more.
Overall, though, you looked great right out of the gate. How did you feel coming into tonight?
I felt great. This off-season has been super productive. This team has been super enthusiastic about everything. I mean everyone around this brand is just about revitalizing this name and it shows. Jason [Anderson] on the podium in 450 class, me on the podium in the 250 class—it doesn’t really get much better. Yeah, we could have won, but it’s just the first race.
Let’s talk a little about the Bowers battle in the heat race. Overall, did you think Tyler was a little overboard for the first heat race of the year, maybe bringing a little bit of his arenacross style to supercross?
Maybe, but like I said I should have closed the door. I’m not going to talk about him in any way; I should have covered the door. I should have covered the hole better.
I also talked to him about it and he seemed to have nothing but respect for you. He talked about how you were on Yamaha of Troy together back in the day and how you’ve both come full circle. It is weird; you both took very different paths from the beginning and you meet here tonight.
Yeah, it is. I knew Tyler would be a force to be reckoned with coming into this Championship. We’ve had this identical situation before at an indoor arenacross in Ohio. I don’t have any ill-will towards Tyler at all. It happened. I should have done a better job; that’s all there is to it.
Moving on. (laughs) You race the main event with a broken thumb and pull off a second. Was the adrenaline pushing you through? Was the pain bothering you a lot?
Yeah, of course, it’s a broken thumb. It’s not like a finger or something where you can just put it away. Your thumb hurts any time you hit a rock or anything.
Yeah, I’ve broken my thumb and tried to ride through it, and it’s the worst.
It is the worst. It sucks! Yeah, but I just kind of said a prayer and hoped for the best really. I got off to a good start and that’s one thing that’s been really good to me on this bike I felt like, being 19th gate pick on the far outside. Oh, and in front of my gate there was a huge hole. (laughs) I was like, “What am I going to do from here?” But I just put myself in a position where there was no way out; I had no choice but to charge on, and that’s what I did.
Alright, well you scored your best finish ever tonight but broke your thumb. Obviously a bittersweet night, but as of now, what’s your plan moving forward?
I guess I’ll go get more X-rays this week, see if there’s a way we can pin it, but if not we’ll see you in Phoenix the same way I am now.
Well, hoping the adrenaline can carry you through this like it did tonight. We’ll let you go and hope to see you in Phoenix. Great ride tonight.
Thank you.
