Luck also plays a major part in anyone’s move from childhood to adulthood.

Take the example of 20 year old American racer Zach Osborne. The 2010 Maxxis British Motocross MX2 Champion has been involved in racing since he was old enough to remember. He was brought into the World as the son of a professional Drag Racer and quickly caught the bug of “the need for speed”.

His early racing results were mixed to say the least and he pretty much ventured into the wrong path (results and condition wise), not that he meant it, it was just something that happened, or in many cased didn’t happen.

Osborne was considered one of the chosen few when he arrived on the professional AMA Motocross scene. His amateur performance left many people with the impression that he could make it in the major league, wins at Loretta Lynn’s and an FIM World Junior Championship some of his major achievements.

For whatever reason his road to the top was blocked by health issues, injuries and team problems and it took a journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe in 2008 to bring him back to the place many expected him to be years ago.

Unless you have moved away from your family and put everything on the line, then you can’t know how tough that is. Imagine being brought up in a warm family, having pretty much everything you need and all of a sudden it’s off to Europe, alone, and racing riders you have never heard of.

Life as a Motocross racer takes you to some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the World. For Osborne that new place is Great Britain, coming from Chesterfield, South Carolina the Bike It Yamaha rider doesn’t come from the wild side of America, so the move to England hasn’t been too difficult.

Motocross Illustrated: Zach, how was your childhood? Did you spend a lot of time at the Motocross circuits in America?

Osborne: Actually my dad raced Drag cars professionally pretty much all my childhood. I always had dirt bikes and quads and I really wanted to be a motorcycle Drag racer. My first Drag was when I was like 3 days old. Drag racing was always Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When I started my amateur career and it took off I stopped going to the Drags, I think I started racing around when I was 10 or 12 years old, then I was racing pretty much every weekend. Every weekend my dad raced Drags and I went my own way and raced Motocross.

Motocross Illustrated: How did schooling go for you?

Osborne: Pretty much flying all around America to watch my dad racing I missed a lot of school, although I was a good student, but I had a lot of trouble with missing school, so then we started me doing home school. I was pretty good; usually I got good grades, like A and B grades. When I was at school I was a little in the middle the road kind of kid, not the cool kid, but not the nerd.

Motocross Illustrated: How did your professional Motocross career take off?

Osborne: I mean, in 2006 I did the Nationals pretty much on my father’s money and I had some good rides. I got some good results in the first round and then at High Point I broke my thumb and then Southwick I crashed and hurt my thumb again. I had a three week break and was all healed up and ready to do. We came to Budds Creek and I had a great start and was up the front, but then I hit the wall and dropped back to 20th place.

Motocross Illustrated: I remember you getting a lot of bad press about that day in Budds Creek. How did that affect your career?

Osborne: It was a bad deal for me; I mean after that it was a downhill spiral. I met Jonathan Edwards and he sorted out my problems. The next year I had some 5th places and some 6th positions in the Supercross races, but then the Outdoors started I struggled again. My health and my fitness seemed ok, but I couldn't get the results. I ended up taking time off and trying to get it sorted out and then I came back and slipped a disc in my neck. That cost me more races, then I came back for the last two races and got two top ten finishes, but the people at KTM decided they wouldn't continue my contract so I ended up getting fired from that team.

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