Fantastic double podium for Monster Energy Yamaha

Zach Osborne signed off the European chapter of his career by scoring a season-best second place at Teutschenthal and the Grand Prix of Germany; the sixteenth and final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. The Monster Energy Yamaha rider guided his YZ250F to second and fourth positions and classified ahead of team-mate Arnaud Tonus who went sixth and third in the two races to complete a double podium finish for the team and the rapid and agile YZ250F. It was a perfect culmination to a turbulent season for the team as both Osborne and Tonus missed the opening half of the campaign through injury but ended 2012 where they should have started, on the box and spraying champagne.

The MX2 motos took place under bright skies and watched by a 40,000 crowd. The Talkessel layout was typically tight, turning and jumpy and thanks to some work by organisers on the surface the German hard-pack became rougher throughout raceday.

Osborne was already quick from the opening sessions and found a groove on his 338 racebike to take a decent second spot in Saturdays qualification heat. The 23 year old (who has to leave the MX2 class through the age ruling and will end a five year stint in Europe where he was crowned 2010 British Champion, won the 2009 Grand Prix of Turkey and finished fourth in the world in 2010) slotted into second position early in the opening race on Sunday and built an advantage over Jordi Tixier. The American closed to within three seconds of eventual GP winner Tommy Searle but was not able to get in the Britons wheel tracks.

Arnaud Tonus has weathered some poor luck with injury niggles and a pre-season arm-break in 2012 but put all the adversity behind him with some effective skill and deft handling of the German bumps at Teutschenthal. The Swiss picked up his first trophy in Monster Energy Yamaha colours and his second race-run to third position was a confident display of proactive riding.

The Grand Prix of Germany signed off a season in which the YZ250F claimed European Championship honours (thanks to Mel Pocock, who is also on the verge of British Championship success) and also ruled the FIM Womens World Championship. Sadly the new number one, Kiara Fontanesi, could not contest the final round of the female competition at Teutschenthal as a crash in Italy had left the teenager from Parma nursing a concussion.

The Motocross of Nations will now bring the international MX season to a close and the 66th edition of the historic event will see both Osborne and Tonus in action for Puerto Rico and Switzerland respectively at Lommel in Belgium next weekend.

Zach Osborne:

This is a good way to send-off and Im really happy. I got a really bad start in the second moto and was working my way through and got up to eighth when I crashed. That put me back to twelfth and I had to start all over again. I knew it was my last GP moto of this stage of my career so I put my heart and soul into it and was able to finish on the podium. At the beginning of the season I was in great shape after the supercross and unfortunately picked up that injury. I feel now that I am coming back to a good level and was able to charge the whole time in both motos. It was a good feeling. I didnt have anything for Arnaud in the second moto. It was great for the team and also Steve [Dixon, Team Manager absent and undergoing a back operation in hospital] for us to finish the year this way.

Arnaud Tonus:

It has been a really tough season for me and Ive had a lot of problems physically so to get on the podium at the last race is amazing. Especially after yesterday because I had a terrible quali race and had to work hard to come back through from a bad gate position. I really hope I can push for the championship next year after getting a solid winter of work behind me. Thats twice now Ive taken podium results in the last GPs of the year so the goal will be to reverse that for the start of 2013!