After spending the 2025 season contesting his final year in the EMX125 championship with the official SDM-Corse Fantic team, it looks like Francesco Bellei is set for the next chapter in his career.
The talented Italian has been linked with a move up to the EMX250 class for the 2026 season. We understand that Bellei could end up with the Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna team, where he will line up for his rookie campaign in the highly competitive series.
The step from EMX125 to EMX250 is never an easy one, but Bellei has shown flashes of speed and progression over the past couple of years. While he may have entered 2025 with ambitions of challenging for the EMX125 title, the season perhaps didn’t go entirely to plan.
However, competing under the weight of expectation for the first time in his career will have been an invaluable learning curve – something that should serve him well moving forward. In 2026, as an EMX250 rookie, he won’t carry the same level of pressure, giving him the freedom to focus on development and consistency.
The Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna squad has quickly established itself as a serious contender in the EMX250 class. Formed in 2024, 2025 marked only their second full season in the paddock, yet they’ve already proven capable of battling at the sharp end despite working on a restricted budget.
Focused on nurturing young talent, the team offers a strong platform for riders to progress and showcase their potential. If the rumours are accurate, Bellei will join a promising line-up alongside confirmed riders Liam Owens and Mads Fredsoe. Being surrounded by more experienced teammates should give Bellei a valuable environment to learn and improve.
The EMX250 class is often regarded as the direct stepping stone to the MX2 World Championship, making 2026 a pivotal year for Bellei as he aims to prove himself against some of the fastest up-and-coming riders in Europe.
More news from the paddock as and when we get it.
