Raceline Pirelli KTM press release:

Josh Osby has shined on debut for Raceline Pirelli KTM, with the American landing on the SX2 podium at Round 1 of the 2018 Australian Supercross Championship at Jimboomba over the weekend.

Osby, who has spent the past 12 months racing in both America and Canada, showed Australia just what he’s made of on Saturday, charging to an impressive third place for Raceline Pirelli KTM, in what is regarded as one of of the most talent packed SX2 classes we have seen in years.

Despite having the grueling Australian heat to deal with on Saturday, Osby proved that the Queensland weather was no issue, setting the fastest time in free practice, before going on to qualify in third position thanks to a 48.397 lap time.

Osby then appeared in the second heat race of the day where he finished second to fellow American Bradley Taft, granting him immediate entry into his first Australian Supercross main event. And when the gates dropped on the 15 lap final, Osby stormed to a third place finish, landing him on the SX2 podium for the first time this season.

Osby gave credit to his new team following his performance on Saturday night, and shared that despite only being ‘Down Under’ for just over a week that he believes he’s got one of the strongest groups of people behind him.

“I’ve been here just over a week and a half now and I’m just gelling with everyone really well, the guys at Raceline Pirelli KTM are so good to work with and I’m proud that we could get a podium for our first race together,” Osby explained.

“For me, it’s been an easy transition. I ride a KTM back home and stepping on the bike here just feels good. We’ve done some testing together and we’ve pieced it all together so it’s been great.

“I have done day races before so that wasn’t that different but the dirt was completely different. Just the dirt it was brutal – it was hard pack but hard to even explain so adjusting to that was a bit of a challenge. Coming out here I didn’t really know what to expect – everyone talks but until you come and experience it for yourself you just don’t know what it’s like.

“For me, I have been having fun riding my dirt bike, this is usually my off-season actually. I raced Supercross in the States and then the Outdoors in Canada so I’ve pretty much been wide open for close to a year. I want to be on the podium every single time we go racing, but I think the key is to have fun and enjoy myself while I’m here too.”

Raceline Pirelli KTM will now prepare for the second round of the Australian Supercross Championship which will take place at Coolum in Queensland on October 6, 2018.