Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki continues to build its sporting project and is pleased to announce the arrival of Italian rider Francesco Bellei for the 2027 season. He will form an all-new pairing with Nicolo Alvisi: for the first time in the team’s history, Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki will line up with two Italian riders aiming to challenge at the front of the EMX250 European Championship.

At just 17 years old, Francesco Bellei has already built an impressive racing record. An Italian Junior 125 Champion, he also made his mark on the European scene by finishing 4th in the EMX125 European Championship that same year, securing five overall podiums, one Grand Prix victory and two race wins. He also played a key role in Italy’s victory at the 2024 Motocross of European Nations.

Francesco took another step forward in 2026 as he moved up to the EMX250 category. He finished his first season in the class in 7th place in the European Championship, with two podium finishes along the way.

His progress has not gone unnoticed by Stéphane Dassé, Team Manager and Talent Scout at Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki, who quickly recognised Francesco’s potential and decided to put his trust in the young Italian rider for the next stage of his career.

AN ITALIAN DUO AIMING FOR THE TOP

With Francesco Bellei and Nicolo Alvisi, Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki will line up with two Italian riders under its colours for the first time in the team’s history. Two young talents with great potential and a shared ambition: to fight at the front and challenge for the top positions in the EMX250 European Championship.

This new partnership is a continuation of Bud Racing’s sporting project, which has established itself in recent seasons as one of the leading teams in Europe when it comes to developing and supporting young riders.

Two EMX250 European Championship titles secured over the last three seasons are testament to the success of this sporting approach and the team’s ability to develop young talents and help them reach the highest level.

The entire Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki team is looking forward to starting this new partnership and would like to warmly welcome Francesco to the Bud Racing family!

Stéphane Dassé: “I’m delighted to introduce our team for the 2027 season. I’ve been following Francesco in the European Championship for quite some time, and he has delivered some impressive performances this season. When I met him and his family, we immediately hit it off. I discovered a highly motivated rider with a great attitude and the right mindset. The entire team will work hard to provide the very best support to both of our riders and give them everything they need to perform at their best. I’m proud of this team and particularly excited to get this new season underway together!”

Francesco Bellei: “I’m really happy to be joining the team for the 2027 season! I’m looking forward to this new chapter, working hard, improving every day and giving my best on and off the bike. I can’t wait to get started and see what we can achieve together!”

Two European titles in three years for Bud Racing. Two European titles in three years for Nicolo Alvisi. The next chapter starts here.

Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki is delighted to announce the signing of the young Italian talent Nicolo Alvisi on a multi-year deal, as the team continues its commitment to developing the next generation of motocross stars.
The arrival of Alvisi is a natural fit for a team that has established itself as one of the leading structures in the European motocross paddock. With two EMX250 European Championship titles in the past three years, Bud Racing has proven its ability to identify, develop and guide young riders to the very top of the sport.
Mathis Valin claimed the EMX250 title in 2024 before Francisco Garcia brought the crown back to the team in 2026. Garcia’s remarkable championship-winning campaign included 17 race victories from 22 races contested, underlining the team’s competitiveness and ability to deliver results at the highest level of European motocross.
Now, Nicolo Alvisi is ready to become the next rider to benefit from that experience.

A proven champion with huge potential

Alvisi has already built an impressive record despite his young age. The Italian first established himself as a leading European prospect by winning the 85cc European Championship in 2023, before taking another major step forward by becoming EMX125 European Champion in 2025.
His success in the 125cc category confirmed his status as one of the most promising young riders in the sport. In 2026, he moved up to the EMX250 class, taking on the challenge of competing against more experienced riders in one of the most demanding championships on the European calendar.
Joining Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki represents the next logical step in his career: a move to a proven championship-winning structure with the experience, technical expertise and ambition to support his progression towards the highest level of motocross.

The next chapter

With its long-standing relationship with Kawasaki and its track record of developing young talent, Bud Racing has consistently provided a platform for riders to progress through the ranks and establish themselves among Europe’s elite.
Alvisi’s signing reflects the team’s continued ambition to invest in promising young riders and build for the future. Both parties share the same objective: to continue progressing, fighting at the front and challenging for major titles.

Welcome to Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki, Nicolo. The journey starts now!

Stéphane Dassé, Team Owner: “I’ve been following Nicolo for several years now, and I truly believe he has the potential to become one of the leading young riders of the next generation. Our goal is to support his development in every possible way and give him the tools and environment he needs to progress, with the ultimate objective of preparing him for the step up to MX2 in the best possible conditions.”

Nicolo Alvisi: « I am deeply honored by the opportunity the Bud and Kawasaki team is giving me. Their history and achievements speak for themselves. I will do my utmost to leverage their experience and professionalism. I look forward to starting work together in a region that has truly become the best place for motocross. »

The 2026 EMX250 European Championship came to a close in Turkey this weekend, with the Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki Team ending the season in the best possible way by securing a superb 1-2 overall finish thanks to Francisco Garcia and Jake Cannon, who finished first and second respectively in Turkey.

Having already been crowned European Champion at the previous round in the Netherlands, Francisco Garcia once again demonstrated his dominance by winning both races and claiming his seventh Grand Prix victory of the season. It was the perfect conclusion for the Spaniard, who ends the year with 17 race wins from 22 starts — a record in the EMX250 class — along with seven Grand Prix victories, all secured with perfect 1-1 scores.

Jake Cannon also delivered an outstanding performance at the season finale in Turkey, taking second overall after finishing runner-up in both races, just a few seconds behind his teammate. With two Grand Prix victories and several podium finishes throughout the season, the Australian completes the championship in a superb third place after consistently establishing himself as one of the fastest riders in the class.

Ending the season with a 1-2 finish in Turkey, after opening the championship with another 1-2 in Spain, perfectly sums up an incredible 2026 season for the Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki Team.

A huge thank you to every member of the team, to our partners for their trust and support throughout this exceptional season, and also to our fans for following and supporting us every weekend.

Watch the vlog from the race weekend here: https://youtu.be/e9p611gn8tY?si=Po7DgxPMbnVZ1kiz

Francisco Garcia: “This season has been incredible for me. Before joining Bud Racing, I had only achieved one podium finish in EMX250 and had never even stood on the podium in EMX125. I have made huge progress over the past two years and, honestly, they have flown by. I have had so much fun on the bike, but also away from the track thanks to the entire team. I would like to thank everyone in the team and all those who have supported me throughout this journey.”

Jake Cannon: “I’m really happy to finish the season like this, with two second-place finishes in the races. It’s my best result from these two years. Now it’s time to focus on the World Supercross Championship. I can’t wait, and I’ll see you in Birmingham on 10 October.”

Stephane DASSE: “I’m extremely proud of my riders and, above all, of the entire team, who have worked incredibly hard. Finishing with two riders on the overall EMX250 Championship podium is something we have never achieved before in the team’s 20-year history. We will do everything we can to repeat it next year, even though we know that seasons like this don’t come around every year.”

This weekend, the Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki competed at the MXGP of France in Lacapelle-Marival, a round of the MX2 World Championship held in front of a massive French crowd despite extremely hot conditions. It was an intense and highly valuable experience for our two riders, Francisco Garcia and Jake Cannon, who usually race in the European Championship and were making their debut at the highest level of MX2 world competition.

Right from Saturday’s qualifying sessions, both riders showed impressive potential against the best riders in the world. Francisco Garcia delivered a strong 8th place finish, battling hard with the front runners and proving both his speed and his ability to compete with the world elite. Jake Cannon, despite a difficult start, put together an impressive charge through the field to finish 12th with outstanding pace.

On Sunday, Francisco continued his momentum in Race 1, running consistently between 6th and 8th position for much of the moto before a small crash eventually dropped him back to 10th place. On the other side, Jake Cannon faced a more difficult race after crashing at the start and again on the opening lap, but still managed to finish 17th and score valuable championship points.

In Race 2, both riders quickly found themselves around 13th and 14th positions following an average start from Jake and a first-lap incident involving Francisco. Despite the fatigue and the extremely demanding conditions, both riders fought back strongly to finish 10th and 13th respectively in the moto.

In the overall classification for the weekend, Francisco Garcia secured 10th overall while Jake Cannon finished 15th overall. An extremely positive experience for the two young riders, only 18 and 19 years old, and for the entire Bud Racing team, which continues to develop young talent for the highest level of international racing.

The team now heads to Germany for the next round of the EMX250 European Championship, where Francisco Garcia currently leads the championship standings while Jake Cannon sits in 3rd position.

The entire Bud Racing team would like to warmly thank all partners, customers, and French supporters who were present throughout the weekend for their exceptional support during this MXGP of France in Lacapelle-Marival.

The Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki Team is pleased to announce that its teenagers riders, Jake Cannon and Francisco Garcia, will compete in the AMA Pro Motocross round at Southwick in the 250 class.

This special appearance in the United States is a reward for the incredible begin of season both riders have had so far on the international scene.

Francisco Garcia is currently having a remarkable season in the EMX250 European Championship, where he currently leads the standings. Meanwhile, Jake Cannon is living up to his potential, actually 3rd in the championship with a first victory a few weeks ago.
To recognize their performance, dedication, and progress throughout the season, Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki has decided to give its two young riders the opportunity to experience one of the legendary events in American motocross: Southwick, an iconic race on the AMA Pro Motocross calendar.

In keeping with the team’s DNA and history, Bud Racing remains committed to helping its young riders reach the highest international level, whether in the MX2 World Championship—as will soon be the case at Lacapelle-Marival—or through prestigious competitions in the United States. In the past, riders such as Marvin Musquin and Dylan Ferrandis also benefited from Bud Racing’s experience before going on to brilliant international and American careers.

This new adventure will provide a unique opportunity for Francisco and Jake to continue their athletic development in an environment that is as prestigious as it is demanding.

The entire team is looking forward to this American adventure alongside its riders and thanks all of its partners for their ongoing support.

See you in Southwick to follow this new stage of their season!