Josh Osby stepped up to the plate winning SX2 class Overall at 2019 Australia Supercross Championship Round 4 at Mt Smart stadium, Auckland New Zealand on Saturday evening.
Amidst frenzy of Kiwi fans all wanting taste of real-time SX action, Australia’s Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland proved the perfect opportunity for American born Osby to race under lights, proving the previous Round results of 4th, 2nd and 2nd were only teaser of what’s to come.
Racing under Raceline KTM, Josh cemented serious following nailing Final 1 Race win only to sucuumb to Australia’s Jay Wilson blizting pace in Final 2. Osby made most of experience gained competing in 2019 AMA Supercross East Lites class, selecting short-cut lane to make up to 2nd place.
Down to wire in Final 3, Josh stayed super cool under race-pressure, taking the SX2 Overall win and extending points lead of class heading into Final Round in Melbourne in couple of weeks time.
Josh: ‘Racing for me this weekend was great, although it didn’t start off that way. In practice session number 1- I had a chain break just seconds into the practice session, which caused me not able to ride the session. My team got the bike fixed and I was able to continue on for practice session number 2, where I qualified 3rd’.
‘In the heat race another rider came into me and took me down which put me far back. I came back to finish 5th in that one. We had the triple crown format on Saturday, which is (3) 7 lap main events one after the next’.
‘I was able to get off to 3 great starts and end up winning the overall. It was great for myself as I extended the points lead and also great for RaceLine KTM team, as it was their first SX2 victory’.
With first taste of top 8 result at 2019 AMA Supercross East Lites class at home town Indianapolis in March, Josh puts into practice strategy developed from increased race-experience on track. In interview with RacerX earlier this year, Josh expresses his take on learning race-craft skills:
‘Once you show up to the races you really have to have it figured out as a racer… I’m just trying to learn the race craft and how to manage myself throughout the main event, and honestly through the entire day’.
Well, looks like this 23 year old learns quick. In only 2nd Supercross season, Josh makes most of gaining additional SX race-time in Australia’s Supercross Championship Series. And, standing top of table on 87 points is no mean feat given the SX company he is up against.
Josh: ‘The crowd was absolutely amazing and from what I took away from it, they were loving it. As a rider, there is no better feeling than riding down to the stadium with the stands packed with enthusiastic people and Mt Smart stadium definitely provided that!’
With Finale Round 5 in Melbourne on November 30th, Josh goes in with 4 point lead over fellow country-rider Chris Blose on 83 with Australia’s Aaron Tanti on 80 points in 3rd.
For Josh: ‘Working hard and staying focused will be my game plan for the coming weeks leading into Melbourne’.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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