Osborne prolific with podiums with third trophy in Germany

Zach Osborne scored 3rd position overall at the Grand Prix of Germany for the eighth round of fifteen in the 2010 FIM Motocross World Championship and has now moved up to 5th place in the MX2 category after toasting his third podium result on the spin with the Cosworth-powered YZ250F.

The 20 year old was again one of the fastest riders on the international stage and the American had to negotiate an incredibly bumpy hard-pack at Teutschenthal under cloudy skies and in front of a 35,000 crowd. After qualifying with 6th, a slow start in the first moto, with some mistakes in the formative stages, was rectified by a steadily more effective pace that draw him past local hero Ken Roczen and into 4th.

A brighter launch and slot behind Marvin Musquin meant 3rd in the second moto for what was a lonely ride for Osborne; marking the same times as the world champion and winner of seven events this season.

With 2nd, 3rd and 3rd in his last three GPs, Zach is now 5th in the world championship and 8 points behind Jeffrey Herlings in 4th.

Mel Pocock almost ended his Grand Prix weekend before it started by rolling down the track and aggravating neck muscles in the first free practice session. The British teenager was unable to draw on any of the confidence he gained last weekend through his British Championship podium performance but pushed through his discomfort for the races. Two crashes on the opening corners of either moto meant he was continually looking for places to pass on an unforgiving track and just missed out after a gutsy ride to 21st in the first sprint. A comeback to 19th in the second race at least gave some numerical reward and delivered 20th overall.

Bike it Cosworth Yamaha now head further east to Latvia and the ninth Grand Prix of the season which will take place at the soft and rough Kegums circuit.

Zach Osborne, 3rd:
“I think I have come to a peak in my fitness and my riding abilities are where they should be. I am happy with the way things are going with the team and the bike and I am enjoying the races. I was struggling to come through in the first moto and got lucky when Ken Roczen had to throw away his goggles. I did not quite gel with the track this weekend but overall it was a good GP and to have another podium.”

Mel Pocock, 20th:
“About three laps into the first free practice I had a little slip, crashed and bent my head right down towards my chest. I ripped my shoulder and neck muscle and it was giving me agony. I managed to get acupuncture and about 20 massages but it was not the best way to start the weekend! I qualified in the top twenty but this morning I was as stiff as a board and walking around like a scarecrow. In the first race I got sandwiched in the second corner and I couldn’t restart quickly. I was something like twenty seconds behind the last rider but rode fast and smooth to reach 21st. I was happy and gutted at the same time because I hate 21st place because it is so close to the first point! In the next race I had a good start but someone hit me then I bobbled into someone else. I was almost last again but I scrabbled into the points. It could have been a disastrous weekend but my riding was OK; thanks to Ben and well done to Zach.”

MX2 Moto1

1. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 2. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 3. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 4. Zach Osborne (Yam); 5. Ken Roczen (Suz); 6. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 7. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 8. Joel Roelants (KTM); 9. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 10. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 11. Khounsith Vongsana (KTM); 12. Chirstophe Charlier (Yam); 13. Martin Michek (TM); 14. Harri Kullas (Yam); 15. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 16. Aleksandr Tonkov (Suz); 17. Alessandro Lupino (Yam); 18. Loic Larrieu (Yam); 19. Klemen Gercar (KTM); 20. José Butrón (Suz);

MX2 Moto2

1. Ken Roczen (Suz); 2. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 3. Zach Osborne (Yam); 4. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 5. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 6. Christophe Charlier (Yam); 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 8. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 9. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 10. Michael Leib (Kaw); 11. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 12. Khounsith Vongsana (KTM); 13. Harri Kullas (Yam); 14. Alessandro Lupino (Yam); 15. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 16. Nikolaj Larsen (Hon); 17. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 18. Loic Larrieu (Yam); 19. Mel Pocock (Yam); 20. José Butrón (Suz);

MX2 Overall Result

1. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 2. Ken Roczen (Suz); 3. Zach Osborne (Yam); 4. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kaw); 6. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 7. Christophe Charlier (Yam); 8. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 9. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 10. Khounsith Vongsana (KTM); 11. Harri Kullas (Yam);12. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 13. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 14. Joel Roelants (KTM); 15. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 16. Michael Leib (Kaw); 17. Alessando Lupino (Yam); 18. Martin Michek (TM); 19. Loic Larrieu (Yam); 20. Nikolaj Larsen (Hon);

MX2 World Championship standings after 8 of 15 rounds

1. Marvin Musquin (365); 2. Ken Roczen (288); 3. Steven Frossard (268); 4. Jeffrey Herlings (241); 5. Zach Osborne (233); 6. Shaun Simpson (225); 7. Arnaud Tonus (214); 8. Jeremy van Horebeek (209); 9. Joel Roelants (183); 10. Jake Nicholls (158); 11. Harri Kullas (158); 12. Christophe Charlier (130); 13. Dennis Verbruggen (127); 14. Alessandro Lupino (111); 15. Gautier Paulin (100); 16. Matiss Karro (71); 17. Valentin Teillet (65); 18. Nikolaj Larsen (53); 19. Khounsith Vongsana (43); 20. Mel Pocock (36);