Osborne Secures Round 1 Glory

The opening round of eight in the 2010 Maxxis British Championship allowed the new-look Bike it Cosworth Yamaha UK team to savour their first taste of competition in this year's national and international schedule and Zach Osborne gave the squad a resilient start with victory in the MX2 class.

The well-prepped circuit of Little Silver near Exeter was the scene for the initial round in one of Europe's toughest domestic series. American Osborne, beginning his second full season with the English set-up, looked fit and on-form after a diligent winter training schedule in Scandinavia that ensured that the 20 year old fully recovered from the wrist injury sustained last term. The 2009 Turkish Grand Prix winner registered pole position Sunday morning with a lap almost three seconds quicker than the nearest rider, team-mate Mel Pocock. Osborne suffered slightly with arm-pump in the first of three 20 minute and 2 lap motos and took 4th but was unstoppable in the following sprints with his second chequered flag in the final race the highlight of the day as he pegged-back an eight second deficit to defeat main title rival Jake Nicholls.

'This weekend was really good for me, I still have a lot of work to do before the first Grand Prix but this win is definitely something to build on. I'm happy with the team and the way things are going. I am really enjoying myself right now and I think it shows. I want to say a big thanks to the team and all the people who are supporting me behind the scenes.'

British teenager Mel Pocock was 8th overall with scores of 6th, 10th and 8th. A small crash while pushing for a podium slot in Moto1 ruined his best chance of the afternoon and two mediocre starts cast him to the fringes of the top ten in the other outings. Pocock had won the final event of 2009, so Osborne's achievement neatly continued the team's dominance in the UK. New to the line-up was youngster Ed Allingham who managed to score points in two races for 21st overall in an encouraging debut.

Phoenix tools Bike It Cosworth Yamaha's Jason Dougan, offering representation in the MX1 class on British shores and in select Grand Prix, finished 5th overall on his maiden appearance with the YZ450F and with a scorecard of 6th, 5th and 6th.

Little Silver was the first showing for the black-livered machinery that benefits from the world-renowned engineering technology of the Cosworth group. Bike it Cosworth Yamaha UK will now increase the speed of their 2010 activities with the second British Championship meeting in two weeks at Mallory and then the first foray of fifteen in the FIM World Championship at Sevlievo in Bulgaria on Easter Sunday.

'I was very happy with the whole team, everyone has worked so hard,' commented Team Principal Steve Dixon. 'We have had a lot of changes with Wild Wolf Energy shot joining the team and we have had a whole livery change which looks fantastic. Cosworth have been working hard on engine parts and I am excited about this relationship because they are a highly respected Formula one engine supplier and we can learn a lot from them in the way they work and present themselves as a company, they are very professional and combined with the strength of Bike It and our key technical suppliers I am sure we are in a position as good as any factory team.'