Osborne, Johnson lead list of Muddy Creek winners

BLOUNTVILLE — Two-time AMA national champion Zach Osborne posted a win and two other podium finishes during the weekend's AMA Southeast Regional Championship at Muddy Creek Raceway. The name of the motocross event was a little deceiving as riders descended on the Blountville track from all over North America. They came from all corners of the continental U.S., from Maine to Florida, Washington State to California, in addition to riders from Alaska, Canada and Mexico. Osborne, the Abingdon native who now lives in Florida, rode his Beta bike to a sweep of three 25+ motos. Robert Marshall from Massachusetts was second with New Yorker Phillip Nicoletti third. Osborne also posted third-place finishes in the Open Pro Sport and 250 Pro Sport classes. Those finishes qualified him for all three classes at the upcoming Loretta Lynn National Championships. Each race was different as conditions went from wet and soggy Saturday to dry and dusty Sunday. "We've had varied weather conditions, so the track has been variable," Osborne said. "The challenge here are all the off cambers, and how steep everything lays. I've had a good weekend and a little to build on for the Lorettas program." Osborne has reached the top of the motocross mountain. But, he was certainly happy to be back home racing in the Mountain Empire region. "It's awesome. I really enjoy riding which is the main thing," Osborne said. "I took this job with Beta as an ambassador and didn't really know what I was going to do. But, I still love riding." TEXAS HEAT Kade Johnson put the Kawasaki colors on the winner's stage in the Open Pro Sport class. He won the first moto, finished second to Jesson Turner in the second moto and outran Osborne in the final one. "To be able to race this caliber of competition, to ride with them, you look at their track record," Johnson said. "There were really good racers so it was fun battling them. We're ready to go to Lorettas now." It was the third time the Texas rider raced at Muddy Creek and like Osborne, found the track to offer different challenges throughout the weekend. "You could say it was diverse," Johnson said. "It was muddy and slick, then it was dry and rough the second day. It was every type of condition." Turner, a South Carolina rider, swept 250 Pro Sport motos. His fellow Yamaha racer Ryder Malinoski from Minnesota, was second with Osborne third, a spot ahead of Johnson. LOCAL WINNER Jay Stanley from Bristol beat a field of 39 other riders to win the 125C class. He swept all three motos as his Yamaha got out front on a holeshot Sunday. Louisiana rider Aiden Couriville finished second and New Jersey rider Michael Pino was third overall. "I rode pretty good, going 1-1-1," Stanley said. "My bike has been good, and I've been training on it, putting in the work. It's my first time going to Lorettas." Stanley, a former Sullivan East student who is now home schooled, said it was special to defend the home turf. The field included riders from the Carolinas, Virginia and other states throughout the South as well as the Midwest and Northeast. He believed having knowledge as a local rider definitely helped. "This track is so unique," he said. "The dirt gets so tacky and hard, and after the rain, it got so rough compared to tracks I've raced at places like Florida where there's so much sand. This is a completely different beast."