After a steady rise through the European ranks, Elias Escandell is gearing up for a pivotal season in his career. The Spanish rider has secured a high-profile move to Maddii Honda for the 2026 campaign, lining up aboard the Honda CRF250R in the fiercely competitive EMX250 Championship. Having previously worked with Marco and Corrado Maddii during his 125cc days, Escandell is reuniting with a team renowned for its experience, structure and proven ability to develop young talent.
With a strong pre-season already underway in Italy and a clear focus on consistency, starts and championship contention, Escandell enters 2026 with confidence and ambition. We caught up with the Spaniard as he opens up about how the deal with Maddii Honda came together, his first impressions of the Honda machinery, life training in Italy, and why he believes this project gives him everything he needs to fight at the front of EMX250.
GateDrop: Elias, your move to Maddii Honda for the 2026 has finally been announced. How did the deal all come about and when did talks first start?
Escandell: Well, thanks to the fact that I was already with the team Maddii in 125cc, we know each other very well and have a good relationship, so everything was agreed quite smoothly.
GateDrop: The way things are at the moment it isn’t easy for riders to get rides, did you have many options aside from Maddii Honda for 2026?
Escandell: It’s true that there were a few other options, but none like the Maddii team, with a bike and a structure capable of fighting for the European championship.
GateDrop: You’ve worked with Marco and Corrado before during your time with the Fantic EMX125 team. Just what are they like to work with? I’ve heard they’re great for young riders!
Escandell: Yes, that’s true. I already worked with them at Fantic and it went great. Now we’re working together at Honda, and during this pre-season I’ve managed to adapt very well to the bike.
GateDrop: Maddii Racing has a long history in the EMX paddock. What was it about this project that convinced you it was the right step for your career?
Escandell: What I lacked in the past two years in EMX250 wasn’t a better bike, but a better way of working with the team, and with the Maddii team I know I have all of that.
GateDrop: How important was the team’s experience in developing young riders when making your decision?
Escandell: Very important, also because as I mentioned before, they have a very good working method for the riders, which allows us to start the season very strong.
GateDrop: You’ll be racing the Honda CRF250R in EMX250. How different does the bike feel compared to what you’ve been riding, and what stood out in your first tests?
Escandell: The bike is quite different compared to what I’ve been riding these past years. But even so, I really like it, and I’ve managed to adapt quickly thanks to the bike’s ease of handling with its frame and overall setup.
GateDrop: How long have you spent riding the bike so far?
Escandell: We’ve been in pre-season for a little over a month, doing very good work both on the bike and physically.
GateDrop: Was adapting your riding style to the Honda a challenge, or did it come naturally?
Escandell: It was quite natural, thanks to how easy the Honda is to ride.
GateDrop: You have some fast teammates in the form of Marc-Antonine Rossi, Nicky Mannini, Nicolo Alvisi, will you put in plenty of laps with them through the pre-season and during the season? I think that could really help all riders and help you all…
Escandell: Yes, of course. We train together and live together when we’re in Italy. Each of us has our strong points, and by training together, that gets shared and helps all of us to improve.
GateDrop: I guess you’ll be back based in Italy during the season, you’ve done that before – do you like Italy?
Escandell: Yes, we’re working in Italy, and yes, I really like it for training and for living since Italy is quite similar to Spain.
GateDrop: EMX250 is always extremely competitive. What are your personal goals for the 2026 season in terms of results?
Escandell: The goal is to work hard, be consistent throughout the year, and with a bit of luck, the results I want will come. I’m more than sure of that.
GateDrop: What do you think will be the key factors to being successful in EMX250 next year?
Escandell: Consistency throughout the year, and technically, the starts – that’s something you really have to work on for when the races come.
GateDrop: Do you know yet which pre-season races you’ll contest in 2026?
Escandell: Yes, normally we’ll do the International of Italy and the Italian Prestige rounds that take place before the EMX250.
GateDrop: Will you race any domestic series in 2026 – the Spanish or Italian series or is the full focus on the EMX250 series?
Escandell: My focus is always on EMX250, but I will also race the Italian Prestige.
GateDrop: Will you have the opportunity to race any wildcard MX2 GP events next year when there’s no EMX250 round taking place?
Escandell: I hope so. If the team wants to and see me ready, and I feel good, it could happen.
GateDrop: Joining a high-profile team like Maddii Honda brings expectations. How do you handle that pressure?
Escandell: I put the pressure on myself. I have my own goals and I know what I have to do to achieve them. If I don’t achieve them, nobody will be harder on me than myself.
GateDrop: What would make you look back at the 2026 season and say, “That was a success”?
Escandell: A success in 2026 would be winning the EMX250 series and winning the Italian Prestige. That would make 2026 a successful year.
