A new chapter began for Cole McCullough last weekend as the young talent made his EMX250 debut following his move to the de Baets AIT Yamaha team for the 2026 season. Stepping up into the EMX250 series proved to be a challenging introduction at the opening round, with bad starts making life difficult in a stacked field where track position is crucial.
McCullough lined up for his debut on a two-stroke machine, having spent the off-season testing both two-stroke and four-stroke options. Despite gaining experience on both, he initially opted to begin the campaign on the two-stroke as he adapted to his new surroundings and team setup.
However, after his first outing, McCullough has made the decision to switch permanently to a four-stroke for the remainder of the season, with the change set to come into effect immediately at this weekend’s EMX250 round in Switzerland.
“Round one was always going to be tough, Cole hadn’t lined up in this environment since June 2025, obviously we didn’t expect it to be easy but going to Spain and having to ride the training bike was not ideal and left us more on the back foot before we even got on track. I have to admit that I thought the 2-stroke was the best option for 2026, personally now I admit I could have been wrong, but time will tell”, Philip McCullough told GateDrop.com.Â
“Our training bike engine was good, but not having our full race engines ready and the EMX started was not a great way to start the season. Going 4-stroke is not going to guarantee any quick fixes or better results, but Cole already feels more confident and happy which is obviously very important at this level. Danny (Team owner) was able to have a really good bike built in a day and with a couple days (Wednesday evening & Thursday) on the track, Cole is already lapping faster on the 250F”, McCullough concluded.Â
The switch signals a significant step in McCullough’s progression as he looks to find comfort and consistency in the ultra-competitive EMX250 class. With stronger starts and improved race management likely to be key on the four-stroke, all eyes will be on how quickly he can adapt when the gate drops in Switzerland.
As the season unfolds, the move could prove pivotal in helping McCullough unlock his potential and establish himself among Europe’s elite in the EMX250 category.
