ZACH OSBORNE INTERVIEW: “I’M ABLE TO ENJOY IT WITHOUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE RESULTS”

It’s now been six years since Zach Osborne was forced into retirement by a back injury. Since that time, the soon-to-be 37-year-old has done some off-road racing and made the switch to Beta. Osborne recently won the prestigious 25+ and Open Pro Support Championships at Loretta Lynn’s. Capping that accomplishment, Zach entered the final three AMA 450 Motocross rounds as part of the Liqui Moly Beta Racing Team. Here, Zach was able to earn Pro Motocross points, along with helping to provide improvements to the Beta. We caught up with the Virginia native at the Ironman finale, after his day was cut short by injury.

BY JIM KIMBALL

ZACH, HAS MUCH CHANGED BEING AT THE NATIONALS SINCE YOU WERE HERE LAST? I would not say a whole lot has changed. It is sort of the same program, just a couple years further along, and a couple of years older. I have really enjoyed being back, getting to race and learning about the bike and team. It has been a really good experience.

HOW ABOUT THE SOCIAL ASPECT? I’VE SEEN YOU TALKING TO MANY IN THE PRO PITS. Oh yeah, it is a huge part of the motivation to do it, just to be back in the fold. Now I’m able to enjoy it without a lot of pressure on the results. It has been a good experience.

Zach Osborne made his return to racing at Loretta Lynn’s, where he won both the 25+ class as well as open pro.

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR RIDES HAVE BEEN? Medium. I think they have been all right. But, my starts have just been horrendous, and you really can’t do that when you are not quite as fast as the guys in the front. To start at 35th is just not very realistic to get close to the top ten. My riding has been good. My finish has been fine, but my starts have been horrendous.

IT MUST BE DIFFICULT COMING BACK INTO MOTOCROSS, AS BETA’S FOCUS HAS BEEN ON RACING SUPERCROSS. Yes, for sure. There has been a lot of learning on both sides, from the team aspect and from my side as well, just learning how they do everything and learning what it all looks like for them to go racing and everything. We are kind of all learning together, I guess.

After much success at Loretta Lynn’s, he continued to race the final rounds of the 2026 Pro Motocross  Nationals.

HAS THE ITCH BEEN SCRATCHED, OR DO YOU FEEL YOU STILL WANT TO HAVE SOME MORE RACING TO DO? I think the itch has been scratched. It has been a very awesome experience to get to come back and finish things out. I have a couple more little races to do here and there, but nothing this serious. I think this is probably the last time that I will ever race a Pro National.

HOW IS YOUR ROLE AS BRAND AMBASSADOR? At this point, it is far beyond Brand Ambassador only. I think my job duties continue to expand daily. I am happy to do whatever they need me to do. It is a great little program, and I think we are making huge strides in the right direction, so I am happy to be part of it and do whatever they need me to do.

As an ambassador for Beta, Zach has really shown what the bike can do.

I HAVE NEVER RIDDEN A BETA, BUT I ALWAYS SEE THE WORD “RIDEABILITY.” DOES THAT PROPERLY DESCRIBE THE BIKE? Yes, absolutely! I think that it is a great phrase now that I know what I know and how I am in it so deep. I think it is probably our biggest asset, the rideability. It is the perfect slogan.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON WHERE YOUR FUTURE IS, ZACH? I am with Beta through the end of 2028 and hopefully beyond that. I will just keep digging, trying to grow the team and grow the brand, and see what we can do.