It was a historic day for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team as the brand swept the 450SX podium at the final round of the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series in Salt Lake City. With first-time 450SX winner Zach Osborne at the helm, teammates Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson contributed to the trio leading all 25 laps of Sunday’s Main Event to end the season on a high note in Utah.
Osborne suffered a hard crash during the day’s qualifying, where he was able to salvage 15th in the combined sessions. He bounced back in 450SX Heat 2, where he grabbed a second-place start and maintained a steady pace to secure a second-place transfer into the Main Event. Credited with the Main Event holeshot, Osborne had a great jump off the line as he battled out front early on. He engaged in a three-way battle for the lead behind his teammates Wilson and Anderson early on, patiently waiting for his time to make a move. On lap eight, he passed Wilson for second and from there he focused on reeling in the leader of Anderson ahead. With four laps to go, Osborne overtook the lead and he never looked back as he bested his teammate by three seconds for the win. Osborne, who ended the season with four podiums in the last six rounds, finished sixth overall in the 450SX Championship despite missing two rounds mid-season due to injury.
“That was a great race for all three of us. It feels amazing to get some results here at the end of the season for my team,” Osborne said. “It was an incredible day and I’m just really proud for the whole team to be on the podium. It’s been an amazing trip in Salt Lake City.”
In 450SX Heat 1, Anderson got off to a fourth-place start and he climbed up to second by lap two. He worked his way into the lead halfway through and he held strong to capture the heat race victory. He got off to a great start in the Main Event, where he mixed it up for the lead with his teammates early on. He battled in second behind Wilson for the first six laps before making his way into the lead on lap seven. The 2018 450SX Champion held off a hard-charging duo behind him for 15 laps, leading the most laps of the race, before Osborne took over with four to go. Anderson continued to push all the way to the checkers, ultimately securing a runner-up finish at the finale. Anderson concluded the 2020 season in fourth overall, claiming five podium finishes and seven top-five finishes.
“All-in-all, it was a good trip in Utah and ending it on a high note with all three of us on the podium was good,” Anderson said. “I enjoyed Salt Lake City, so let’s do this again and get ready to go for outdoors.”
Wilson, the fourth-place qualifier, lined up in 450SX Heat 1 where he got off to an eighth-place start. He battled his way up to ultimately secure a sixth-place transfer spot. In the Main Event, Wilson got off to a great start as he battled his teammate Osborne for the official holeshot. He quickly assumed the lead position on the opening lap where he set the pace early on, leading the first six laps of the race. Anderson took over on lap seven and Osborne followed suit, putting Wilson in a new battle for second-place. He maintained a great pace for the remainder of the race to claim his first podium finish of the season by finishing only 5.3 seconds back from the leader. Wilson rounded out the 2020 season eighth overall in points, claiming 11 top-10 finishes throughout the season.
“I was a bit tight running up front but I just tried to play it cool and smart, Wilson said. “My goal was to get on the box and that’s what I did. I’m stoked to get a third place, lead some laps and end this SX season the way I wanted to. I would have liked to have more podiums but I’m super happy from where I came from at the beginning of the season barely being able to ride my bike, to being where I need to be now. I believed I could do it and I’m stoked.”
450SX Results
1. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
2. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing