It’s been a season of highs and heartbreak for promising young Northern Irish talent, Cole McCullough.
The EMX125 rider had been showing superb form throughout the early stages of the 2025 campaign, claiming his first ever podium in the deep sand of Riola Sardo. At Arco di Trento he impressively took his first race win in the competitive European championship.
However, McCullough’s momentum began to stall following a wrist injury sustained in Portugal. Despite the knock, he chose to continue racing, pushing through the pain barrier before a crash during the German round forced him out of the rest of that weekend.
The incident kept him out of action for the Latvian round as well, but there was still hope of a return at Matterley Basin – a venue he sees as his ‘home’ GP. From there, the plan was to build back up and finish the season strongly, with the remaining rounds expected to suit his riding style.
Unfortunately, after consulting with a specialist, it has now been confirmed that McCullough has suffered a broken scaphoid. The positive news is that the crash in Germany didn’t worsen the injury, but the reality is that he’s now in a sling and will need time to recover fully. As a result, it’s unlikely he’ll return to racing before the end of the season.
It’s a bitter blow for the young rider who had been enjoying a strong year, but attention will now turn to recovery and preparation for the next stage in his career. Once back to full health, McCullough is expected to transition to the 250cc four-stroke, with an eye on contesting the EMX250 championship in 2026 – a fresh chapter that holds plenty of promise.
Despite the setback, McCullough has already proven this year that he has the speed and potential to compete with the best in Europe. A full recovery will now be key as he looks to come back stronger and ready to take on the next challenge.
