Slaw
Beta USA has signed Derek Kelley on a two-year deal as the first rider in the Liqui Moly Beta Race Team’s expansion into the 250SX class.
Hailing from Riverside, California, Kelley turned pro in 2019 and quickly built a reputation as one of the most resilient, hard-working racers in the paddock. Over the past several seasons, he has consistently proven his speed against stacked fields in both AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross. His indoor resume includes a career-best 6th-place finish at the Glendale 250SX West round, multiple top-10 main event finishes across both coasts, highlighted by top-eight rides in Anaheim, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and a 7th-place finish on the global stage at the FIM World Supercross British GP.
Known for his relentless grit, technical precision, and bike-development feedback, Kelley brings strong race-craft to Beta’s 250 program as the brand enters its inaugural season campaigning the all-new RX 250F in Pro Supercross.
With testing and development already underway ahead of the upcoming season, Kelley is eager to take on the challenge of bringing Beta’s new 250 program to the gate.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to join the Beta Racing Team for the coming years! The team has built an exceptional environment where everyone is fully committed. I am also excited to work on the development of the new bike and can’t wait to get started!” said Derek Kelley.
The move marks a major step forward for Beta USA’s racing efforts, building upon the team’s foundation in the 450 class and establishing a full factory effort in 2027.
“Expanding our program into the 250SX class is a massive milestone for Beta USA, and bringing Derek Kelley on board is the perfect fit to kick off this new chapter,” said Carlen Gardner, Race Team Manager. “Derek has repeatedly shown the grit, speed, and work ethic it takes to compete with the best in the sport. His experience racing at the highest level, paired with his technical feedback, will be vital as we develop and race the RX 250F in Supercross. We are excited to welcome Derek to the Liqui Moly Beta family and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”
Press release
