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EMX, MXGP OF THE NETHERLANDS - Arnhem, The Netherlands, 23 Srpen 2026

Kawasaki and Francisco Garcia EMX250 champions

Francisco Garcia and Venum Bud Kawasaki, the official KME support team, confirmed the FIM European EMX250 title they had clinched in the first moto of the weekend the previous day when the Spaniard collected his second runner-up moto finish of the weekend at Arnhem in The Netherlands. And Kawasaki has already clinched the Manufacturers' title with one round remaining!

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.
 
Having already secured the title with a second-placed finish in the first race on Saturday afternoon Garcia was determined to underline his champion status with a moto win and overall in Sunday morning's race two as he swept into the lead a few corners from the start to hold a three-second lead for most of the race until the effort started to take it's toll in the closing laps as he continues his recovery from injury and this allowed his closest chaser to mount one final attack. The Spaniard had to surrender the lead but defiantly remounted a challenge on the final lap to take the chequered line in the wheeltracks of his rival for second in moto and overall over the weekend. His efforts were not in vain however as the twenty-two points thus gained have confirmed the Manufacturers' title for Kawasaki already before the final round of the series; the Lime Green manufacturer has won eight of the eleven rounds to date and holds a sixty-point lead over their closest rival with a maximum of fifty points still on the line at the final round.
 
Francisco Garcia: "I was a little disappointed with myself yesterday, not only with my speed but also with the games I was playing on the track, but nobody could realise what I have been going through these last few weeks after my injury. I had hoped I could be a little more relaxed today and go for the win with the title already in my pocket but it was another really difficult race for me physically in the sand and I had to settle for second again. I will go to see my doctor tomorrow to see if I can even race the final round in Turkey now I am already confirmed as champion. I am proud that I could clinch the title this weekend for myself, Bud Rcing and Kawasaki and now I want to focus on being ready for my move to the MX2 GPs with KRT next year."
 
Steve Guttridge (KME Race Planning Manager): “It’s a fantastic achievement from our Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki team and Francisco Garcia to not only win the series, despite missing an entire round at Lommel due to injury, but return in Sweden last weekend with a two-moto victory and then yesterday, with three races still to go - be crowned champion here in Arnhem! His performances this season have been so dominant on the KX250. We would like to send our big thanks and congratulations to all the team staff for their hard work and dedication week in, week out to bring Kawasaki yet another European EMX250 individual championship and also the Manufacturers' title.”
 
Shigemi Tanaka ( Managing Director, Kawasaki Motors Europe): "Congratulations to Francisco on becoming EMX250 champion; the next step together is the World Championship! We at Kawasaki and all KX fans globally look forward to seeing your continued success within the Team Green family!"
 
Stéphane Dassé (Venum Bud Kawasaki team owner): "We are so happy to take the EMX250 title again for Kawasaki; it's our second title together in three years! After his injury we didn't expect Francisco to win in Sweden last week so it's great for both he and the team that we could now round out the season by already clinching the title here this weekend. We are happy to have had Francisco onboard for the last two seasons and wish him continued success in the future with KRT."
 
Jake Cannon, the other Bud Kawasaki rider, faced another tough moto from a midfield start. The Australian teenager was up to fifteenth within two laps but then found further advances difficult until his physical fitness played a role through the final quarter of the race. Entering the final lap eleventh one final push on the last lap saw him make two decisive passes for ninth as he sought to confirm his series medal ambitions and he now heads to the final round in Turkey two weeks from now holding a fifty-point lead over fourth in the standings and needing just a single point to confirm the bronze medal.