Alve Callemo has enjoyed an impressive first season on the 250cc machine. After deciding against another year in the EMX125 Championship, the Swedish rider made the step up to the 250cc class as a privateer, initially only planning to contest selected EMX250 rounds. However, an opportunity with Young Motion powered by Resa opened the door to the MX2 World Championship, giving Callemo the chance to test himself against the best riders in the world.
After making his MX2 debut at Lacapelle-Marival, Callemo has steadily grown in confidence with each GP he has contested and delivered his biggest result yet at the brutal Lommel circuit, going 8-10 for an impressive eighth overall. With the Swedish Championship also still firmly in his sights and his home GP at Uddevalla coming up this weekend, there is plenty to look forward to.
We caught up with Callemo to discuss his decision to move up to the 250cc, his MX2 experience so far, his standout Lommel performance, his Swedish Championship campaign and what the future could hold for 2027.
GateDrop: Alve, I was speaking to you towards the end of last season and you told me you were planning another year on the 125cc. In the end, why did you decide to move up to the 250cc? You are quite tall, so I’d imagine that has something to do with it!
Callemo: At the end of last season, we talked a lot about what we were going to do this season – whether I should move up to the 250cc or stay for another year on the 125cc. In the end, we decided to move up to the 250cc and focus on that instead. One of the reasons was that if I had stayed on the 125cc, I would have wanted to do a full EMX125 season, but as a privateer rider, that would have been too expensive and demanding for us. So, we decided to move up to the 250cc instead.
GateDrop: When you first got on the 250cc bike, how did you feel and what were your first impressions?
Callemo: The first time I got on a 250cc was actually during the winter of 2025, when I trained on it a little before moving back down to the 125cc. My first impressions were that it was really fun to ride a bigger and faster bike, but also that the riding style changed a little bit, in a positive way.
GateDrop: You started the season as a privateer and doing selected EMX250 rounds. How did it feel to get picked up by Young Motion powered by Resa to do selected MX2 GPs? It must have felt great to get picked up by a team!
Callemo: I started the season on my own, without a foreign team, with the plan of only doing a few EMX250 races. Then Young Motion contacted me because they were looking for a fill-in rider, so I thought, why not? It has been some really fun and useful weekends, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity they have given me.
GateDrop: You made your MX2 World Championship debut at France in Lacapelle-Marival — how did it feel to line up alongside the best 250cc riders on the planet?
Callemo: My MX2 debut in Lacapelle-Marival was, of course, a little unusual and something I wasn’t used to. But I still feel that I’m getting more and more comfortable with it.
GateDrop: Since France, has it got easier lining up in MX2 — do you feel more comfortable?
Callemo: I really feel that I have developed my riding since the French GP. Like I said, I’m just becoming more and more comfortable with the World Championship and the pace that is there.
GateDrop: We have to talk about Lommel. You love the sand, but what did you expect heading into that GP?
Callemo: Lommel is, as everyone probably knows, a very special GP, as it is known as one of the toughest tracks in the world. So, my expectations going into that weekend weren’t very high, and I definitely wasn’t expecting a top 10 result there. I know I can do more than I had shown at the previous World Championship rounds, but a top 10 was something completely different!
GateDrop: 8-10 for eighth overall at a brutal Lommel. That must have felt great to ride in the top ten? For the confidence also, it must feel quite good!
Callemo: Going 8-10 in Lommel was far from what I expected, as I said, but it still felt really good and natural to be riding up there in the top 10. It definitely gives me a little more confidence when I can show that I’m capable of running up front.
GateDrop: You are battling for the Swedish Championship. How is the domestic series going for you?
Callemo: The Swedish Championship has been going pretty well so far. I’m currently nine points behind the leader, with two rounds left, which I’m really looking forward to.
GateDrop: It is your home GP this weekend at Uddevalla — what are your goals for this weekend back racing EMX250? It’s going to be a great atmosphere!
Callemo: I’m really looking forward to Uddevalla this weekend. One of my goals is to get a good result and show the Swedish fans what I can do.
GateDrop: Have you got any plans for the 2027 season yet — do you have any preference between MX2 or EMX250?
Callemo: The plans for 2027 aren’t completely clear yet, but I hope to get a good ride or something similar that allows me to continue racing at this level. I’m still quite young, so another year in EMX250 wouldn’t be a bad thing, but I’m also open to MX2. I really enjoy racing there as well.
