Extended Praise to 250SX Champions Osborne and Plessinger
MORGANTOWN, WV – May 7, 2018 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – With less than two weeks until the start of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, MX Sports Pro Racing would like to congratulate Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and its riders Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne on capturing their respective supercross championships last Saturday night in Las Vegas. Added celebration also extends to Aaron Plessinger and his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha squad following their championship-winning season. All three riders will now set their sights on continued success this summer in pursuit of the most prestigious title in the sport, one that Osborne will seek to defend beginning on May 19 at the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic.
As the newest AMA/FIM Supercross World Champion, Anderson fittingly becomes the 21st different rider to earn the coveted crown, matching his career number. The New Mexico native known as “El Hombre” took a page out of the playbook of his former training partner Ryan Dungey, and amassed unparalleled consistency throughout the demanding 17-round season with four wins and 11 podium finishes. Perhaps even more importantly, Anderson minimized the damage done on his bad days and finished outside the top 10 just once, the result of incidental contact that caused damage to his bike that needed to be repaired midrace.
“We’ve watched Jason evolve from an enthusiastic rookie looking to harness his talents, to one of the most consistent and tactful riders in the sport,” said MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs. “He’s one of an elite group of riders that have managed to win supercross titles in both the 250SX and 450SX class, and I believe we’re still in the early stages of Jason reaching his full potential as a competitor. This could be the start of a successful career filled with multiple titles, the journey to the next of which begins in just a couple weeks with the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Also a special congratulations to Husqvarna for earning its first premier Supercross Championship.”
Much like his 450-mounted teammate in the same phase of his career, Osborne has showcased exceptional growth over his past two seasons of competition in the 250 division. He broke through with his long-awaited first career 250SX East Region title one year ago, and repeated that feat this past weekend after amassing three wins and six podium finishes. The hallmark of Osborne’s wave of success can be attributed to his uncanny ability to battle through riders, and it’s that relentless drive that carried him to the 250 Class title last summer. With one successful title defense under his belt this season, he’ll no doubt be favored to do the same at the Nationals.
Ever since he stepped into the professional ranks people have had their eye on Plessinger. As a second-generation racer that honed his talents riding through the woods in GNCC competition, he possesses a unique skillset that is further complemented by his tall, lengthy frame. Plessinger has progressed with each passing season, and thus far 2018 looks to be the breakout year everyone has been waiting for. He won often in the 250SX West Region and it carried him to the first title of his young career. With a few wins already under his belt in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Plessinger is poised to give Osborne a serious challenge for the 250 Class crown.
“Zach and Aaron represent the two captivating ends of the spectrum in the 250 Class,” added Coombs. “Zach is an experienced veteran that has learned to apply all of that knowledge to his race craft, and he’s become one of the most mentally tough and determined riders in the sport. On the other hand, Aaron’s wealth of natural talent has given him untapped potential since the beginning, and now we’re seeing that potential being realized. It makes for an intriguing storyline in the 250 Class to say the least.”
The 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship kicks off on Saturday, May 19, with the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic near Sacramento, California. Tickets to all 12 rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship are available at www.ProMotocross.com.
2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Schedule
May 19 | Hangtown MX Classic | Prairie City SVRA | Rancho Cordova, CA |
May 26 | Glen Helen National | Glen Helen Raceway | San Bernardino, CA |
June 2 | Thunder Valley National | Thunder Valley MX Park | Lakewood, CO |
June 16 | High Point National | High Point Raceway | Mt. Morris, PA |
June 23 | Tennessee National | Muddy Creek Raceway | Blountville, TN |
June 30 | Southwick National | Southwick MX Park | Southwick, MA |
July 7 | RedBud National | RedBud MX | Buchanan, MI |
July 21 | Spring Creek National | Spring Creek MX Park | Millville, MN |
July 28 | Washougal National | Washougal MX Park | Washougal, WA |
Aug 11 | Unadilla National | Unadilla MX | New Berlin, NY |
Aug 18 | Budds Creek National | Budds Creek MX Park | Mechanicsville, MD |
Aug 25 | Ironman National | Ironman Raceway | Crawfordsville, IN |
For information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Facebook: @americanmotocross
Instagram: @promotocross
Twitter: @ProMotocross
YouTube: AmericanMotocross
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, features the world’s fastest outdoor motocross racers, racing aboard the best bikes each factory offers, on the roughest, toughest tracks in the world. The 12-rounds series begins at Hangtown in May and ends at Indiana’s Ironman Raceway in August. It includes stops at the premier motocross racing facilities in America, with events in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, New York and Indiana. The pro riders race on Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is managed by MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road power sports event production. The series is televised on NBC, NBCSN and MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Sports Gold Series partners include Lucas Oil (series title sponsor), Red Bull, WPS, Fly Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, MotoSport.com, Garmin, 100%, KTM, FMF, Deltran Battery Tender, Pirelli, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Pivot Works, Vertex, Alpinestars, KMC Wheels, MotionPro, VP Racing Fuels, Acerbis and Racer X. More information can be found at www.ProMotocross.com.
Source: MX Sports Pro Racing
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