Byron Dennis is set to take a significant step in his career after securing the opportunity to contest two rounds of the highly competitive EMX250 Championship in Europe. The Australian talent will line up for the Swedish and Dutch rounds with Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM, giving him the chance to test himself against some of the best young riders in the world ahead of his planned MX2 World Championship appearances in China and Australia to end the season.
We caught up with Dennis to discuss how the deal came together, what he expects from racing in Europe, his long-term ambitions, and why he believes these next few months could be pivotal for his future.
GateDrop: Byron, you’ve managed to secure a deal to do two rounds of the EMX250 series in Sweden and the Netherlands, how did the opportunity all come around?
Dennis: It has all happened pretty quickly. We’d been looking at opportunities to get some experience racing overseas after the Australian season, and Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM came on board. We had a few conversations, everything lined up, and now I’ve got the chance to race two EMX250 rounds, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
GateDrop: Tell me what you know about the EMX250 series, is it a series you follow?
Dennis: Yeah, it’s definitely a series I’ve followed over the last few years. It’s one of the toughest stepping stones into MX2 World Championship racing, with a lot of young talent from all over Europe. The racing is intense and the tracks are challenging.
GateDrop: Did you speak to any of the current Aussies in the paddock about the series etc?
Dennis: Yeah I speak to the Aussies that are over here, but it’s been a while and I’m looking forward to catching up.
GateDrop: Have you ever raced outside of Australia before – are you looking forward to having the opportunity to do two races in Europe?
Dennis: I have raced overseas before, but this is my first opportunity to race the EMX250 series, so it’s a pretty exciting challenge. Racing in Europe has always been a goal of mine, and I’m looking forward to testing myself and learning as much as I can.
GateDrop: Uddvella and Arnhem are two totally different tracks. What are your goals for each of these events?
Dennis: Yeah, you know I feel I my biggest goal is the learn and gain experience. Built each weekend and go from there.
GateDrop: You will also race two World Championship events in China and Australia – are you looking forward to those two rounds? Your EMX250 experience should also help you prep for them!
Dennis: Absolutely. Racing the MX2 World Championship rounds in China and Australia is another great opportunity. The EMX rounds should give me valuable experience with the tracks, the race format, and the level of competition, so I think they’ll be the perfect preparation heading into those events.
GateDrop: What are your goals for the future? Would you like a full-time EMX/MX2 GP ride for 2027 and do you think that is likely?
Dennis: The goal has always been to race at the highest level possible. I’d love to earn a full-time ride in Europe and race the EMX250 series or the MX2 World Championship. I know there’s still plenty of work to do, but opportunities like these are a big step in the right direction. My focus is on making the most of every race, putting together strong performances, and seeing where that can take me.
