Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Francisco Garcia has opened the 2026 EMX250 European Motocross Championship with a perfect 1-1 performance on home soil at Almonte in Andalucia, but it was Australian teenager Jake Cannon who delivered a standout ride to finish second overall and underline his growing presence on the European stage.
Garcia’s weekend was flawless on paper, securing the red plate with two race wins, but it didn’t come easy in Sunday’s second moto. After launching from gate one, the Spaniard was shuffled back to 10th in the opening turn chaos before methodically working his way forward. By the end of lap one he was already seventh, and from there his pace, fitness and the strength of the Kawasaki package saw him carve through the field.
Closing a six-second gap to the leader by the closing stages, Garcia surged into the lead with three laps remaining, sending the home crowd into raptures before sealing a five-second victory. Reflecting on the moment, Garcia said winning in front of his home fans elevated the experience to another level. “Winning is always amazing but to do it at home is even better with so many fans cheering me on; it’s the first time I have experienced such emotion!” he explained, admitting his start wasn’t ideal but patience paid off as he settled into the race.
While Garcia claimed the headlines, the performance of Jake Cannon was just as compelling from an Australian perspective. The 2024 Australian MX3 Champion, who has transitioned to Europe with the Bud Racing Kawasaki squad, showed both resilience and race craft in the second moto after an eventful ride.
After finishing second to Garcia in Saturday’s opening moto, Cannon again started strongly on Sunday but struggled to find his rhythm early and slipped back, before a crash on lap four dropped him to 13th. From there, the young Australian produced one of the rides of the race.
Resetting quickly, Cannon maintained consistent lap times and began picking off riders one by one, showcasing the composure and determination that has marked his rapid progression since moving overseas. By the 20-minute mark he had surged to seventh—already enough to secure second overall for the round—but he continued to push, climbing to fifth by the chequered flag to lock in a Bud Racing Kawasaki 1-2 finish.
Cannon admitted the race was far from straightforward, but was pleased with how he turned things around. “What an awesome weekend but that was a weird race in some ways,” he said, explaining that despite a strong start he struggled early before going down. “I thought I’d throw it away but I was strong after that to fight back for fifth in the moto and second overall.”
The result marks another significant step in the 18-year-old’s European journey, building on the promise he showed since relocating from Australia to contest the EMX250 Championship. Against a deep field of international talent, his ability to recover from adversity and still secure second overall highlights both his speed and maturity, reinforcing his status as one of Australia’s brightest motocross prospects on the world stage.
Fellow Australian Liam Owens continued his development in his second year of the EMX250 Championship, with a 12th and 18th moto scorecard delivering 19th overall in a competitive field, as he steadily builds experience and consistency against Europe’s best.
