Australian talent Ky Woods is set for an exciting new chapter in 2026 after securing a deal with KMP Honda Racing, which will see him make the move to Europe to contest the ADAC MX Youngsters Cup in Germany, while also lining up for selected EMX250 rounds as he begins his European adventure.
The 19 year old arrives in Europe after a solid 2025 campaign in Australia, where he competed in the MX3 championship and finished third overall despite missing a few rounds through injury. The move overseas also marks a significant change in machinery, with the Australian switching from Yamaha to Honda for the new season — adding another fresh challenge as he adapts to both a new bike and new racing environment.
“The deal came about around two weeks ago. I messaged Andre from Cat Moto asking if they needed some sort of a fill in ride because I heard someone was injured and he said his team doesn’t but KMP Honda Racing does. I jumped on to that opportunity straight away and got Alex the boss of KMP Honda Racings phone number and a few days later I was on a flight from Australia”, Woods told GateDrop.com.
Since arriving in Europe, Woods has been settling into his new surroundings and embracing the experience both on and off the bike.
“My time in Europe so far has been awesome meeting and riding with some new people. It’s awesome to be around a bunch of guys from all over the world with the same mindset. I’m really enjoying the food and scenery also. There are beautiful farmlands and pathways to do my cycling and running just makes training a lot easier and nicer.”
The Australian is set to make his competitive debut this weekend and has already been putting in the work to prepare, training with the Cat Moto riders and Sport Alliance squad to familiarise himself with the pace and intensity of European competition.
“My debut is this weekend in Europe. I am excited to get the ADAC Youngsters Cup championship underway. I’ve done a few days of training with the Cat Moto boys and Sport Alliance. I think it will definitely help me training with them boys for the weekend because I kind of know what the speed is like as they are at the top of the Youngsters Cup class. I have a little idea about the Dreetz track as I’ve been studying it a fair bit on YouTube trying to see how it forms up and what way it goes so I’ve little idea. Back home we barely ride any sand, so it was definitely beneficial coming over here a few weeks early to get a bit of a feel for the new sand tracks as well as the new manufacturer.”
Despite the major transition, Woods is keeping his expectations realistic and is focused more on progression than immediate results.
“I don’t really have any expectations; I mean the goal is to always win but I think if I get three great starts and position myself well early on in the moto and try run a solid pace for as long as I can I will be okay. I just want to improve and learn race by race as well as staying healthy.”
For now, Woods and KMP Honda Racing have mapped out an initial schedule, with three rounds of the EMX250 series also in the plans – but Woods would be keen to race more.
“As of right now the team and I have decided to race the round at the end of this month in Germany and followed by Lommel and Arnhem. Hopefully I can do well and try to convince Alex to let me do more rounds (laughs)”, Woods concluded.
The move to Europe is always a big step for any rider, especially one adapting to new tracks, new conditions and new equipment all at once. But with a positive mindset and valuable preparation already under his belt, Woods now has the perfect opportunity to test himself against some of the best young talent in Europe and continue his development on the international stage.
