2014 Monster Energy Supercross in Oakland
GEICO Motorcycle Honda Supercross riders Wil Hahn and Zach Osborne enter this weekend’s national event at O.co Coliseum in the Bay Area determined to make their marks in the 2014 title chase. Both riders have had solid starts to the season but agree that they expect more from themselves as the 17-race Supercross tour makes its fourth stop of the year.
Wil Hahn (GEICO Honda CRF450R Supercross) says: “I can’t wait to get to the Bay Area. I’ve never raced up there, but I have attended past events and the dirt looks so nice. I’m excited to get the chance to tear it up. I’ve also got a lot of friends in that part of the country, so it’ll be fun to reconnect.
“The goal is to keep building on what I’ve accomplished in the first three races. I know my results (11th, 10th, and 12th) don’t show anything spectacular, but I’ve actually made a lot of progress and my confidence is getting up there where it needs to be. This is only the fourth of 17 races this season, so we’ve got time to get where we want to be.”
Hahn, who claimed the 250SX East championship last year, admits that moving up to the premier 450SX class has been a challenge. However, he has quickly learned that he belongs among the sport’s elite. All he needs to do now is prove it to the world.
Wil Hahn says: “The only thing holding me back is me. This GEICO Honda is great. The 450 is definitely different from the 250 but it’s a great bike. To be out there riding against all these guys that I’ve grown up idolizing has been a bit surreal, but every lap I get more comfortable and feel like I do belong out there.
“Last year when I was leading the championship, it was the same kind of feeling, like wow, is this real. But once you figure out that all the work and effort is what put you in this position, you move past it and just race. That’s the plan for Oakland; just race and have fun.”
Osborne started the year with back-to-back podium finishes but slipped to eighth last weekend at Anaheim 2 after coming off his bike trying to avoid a downed rider. Fortunately, although he lost several spots in the incident, he wasn’t hurt and his result kept him tied for third in the championship points.
Zach Osborne (GEICO Honda CRF250R Supercross) says: “It was one of those racing things that happened right in front of me. It happened very fast, and it took me a minute to get going again after I went down. When the guys in front have clean track, having something like that happen back where we were just gives you very little chance to catch back up. I salvaged what I could.
“I think Oakland will be a good place to get back on it. I’ve always done well there, and the dirt is nice and soft, which I like. I stayed in third but I’m 16 points back now, so I kind of feel like I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m going to send it, for sure, and try to get a win. I’ll keep that Honda pinned as much as I can this weekend. No fear.”
FOX Sports 1 will carry the race live beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday evening.
