Francisco Garcia and Venum Bud Kawasaki, the official KME support team, clinched the FIM European EMX250 title with three races remaining; the Spanish teenager set the seal on the campaign with a strong second place in the first moto of the weekend at Arnhem in The Netherlands.

The European series is the final step on the ladder to the FIM World Motocross Championships, first the MX2 series, which is also contested on 250cc machines, and then the premier MXGP championship on 450cc machines. Kawasaki’s race planning department  has already recognised Garcia’s talent and determination and signed the Spanish youngster, who will celebrate his nineteenth birthday in October, to contest the MX2 World Championship alongside Mathis Valin aboard the factory KX250F-SR as a member of Kawasaki Racing Team MX2, the official Lime Green factory team, in 2027.

After heading his group of Timed Practice Garcia rounded turn one third from a safe inside gate, dived past for second already on the first lap and was already looking across to see where the race leader was. He was in the wheel tracks of the leader by lap three before a fall cost him six seconds but not second place. Within four laps he was back on the rear wheel of the leader and leapt past him convincingly. He immediately pulled clear, responding majestically to any further challenge until an incident three laps from the finish cost him another moto victory but could not endanger his title victory as he took the chequered flag second.

Francisco Garcia: “It has been such a difficult last few weeks for me after I hurt my knee. The last five minutes of that moto were the longest of my life but now I am the EMX250 champion. It has been an amazing year with the Bud team and I am so delighted to stay as part of the Kawasaki family next year when I move up to MX2 with the KRT factory team.”

Stéphane Dassé (Bud Kawasaki team owner): “It’s great to round out the season by clinching the title today because it’s never over until it is sure. After his small injury we didn’t expect Francisco to win in Sweden last week to set up the chance of taking the title here; he didn’t ride his best today but that is understandable because of the pressure when the title is so near. We are so happy to take the EMX250 title again for Kawasaki; it’s our second title together in three years! But we are still not finished and we will try to take another overall with the moto victory tomorrow. We are happy to have had Francisco onboard for the last two seasons and wish him continued success in the future with KRT.”

KRT teammate Jake Cannon had to do it the hard way from a mid-pack start but he once again showed his fighting spirit as he pushed for the entire race-distance to claim his eventual seventh four laps from the finish to further strengthen his third place in the series standings.