Beta Signs Derek Kelley for 250SX Expansion
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 8, 2026
Beta expansion plans
Beta USA has signed Derek Kelley to a two-year deal as the Liqui Moly Beta Race Team moves into the 250SX class. The signing gives the program its first rider for the expansion and marks a clear step beyond its 450 class focus. Beta says the move is part of a broader push toward a full factory effort in 2027, with the 250SX program set for the 2027 and 2028 Supercross seasons. The team also says testing and development of its new RX 250F are already underway. That development work sits at the center of the new deal, with Beta looking for a rider who can help shape the bike while the program grows. Kelley brings that role with him, and the team made him the opening piece in a plan that still includes another 250SX rider. The signing expands Beta’s Supercross program into a new class and gives the team a rider with recent 250SX experience. It also builds on a program that is trying to move from expansion to full-scale factory involvement in a short window. Beta’s approach puts the rider and machine development on the same track, with the RX 250F project moving forward at the same time as the roster takes shape.
Kelley profile
Kelley, from Riverside, California, turned professional in 2019 and has built a resume that fits the next stage of Beta’s Supercross push. His career-best 250SX West finish came with sixth place at Glendale, and he has also recorded multiple top-10 main event finishes across the East and West coasts. That mix of results gives Beta a rider who has shown speed in different regions and in different race settings. Kelley also finished seventh at the FIM World Supercross British GP, adding another strong result to his record. He raced for MX6 Kawasaki this year and missed time because of injury, which makes the new deal a reset as well as a fresh opportunity. Kelley said he was thrilled to join the team and work on the new bike, a response that matches the role Beta has outlined for him. His background gives the team a rider who has already spent time in the class the program wants to enter. Beta is betting that experience matters as much as raw speed in a launch like this. Kelley’s profile supports that idea. He has shown the ability to finish inside the top 10 on both coasts. For a team building a new platform, that combination carries value.
Team direction
Team manager Carlen Gardner said Kelley is a strong fit for the program, and the signing points to the kind of rider Beta wants around the RX 250F project. The team is not just filling a seat. It is building around development and long-term planning. Beta’s expansion into 250SX places a new emphasis on the class as the company pushes its Supercross program beyond the 450 level. That step changes the scope of the operation. Beta says the 250SX effort is planned for the 2027 and 2028 Supercross seasons, and the company says it is building toward a full factory effort in 2027. Kelley’s arrival gives that plan a first public piece, and the expected addition of another 250SX rider suggests the roster move is still underway. With the RX 250F already in testing, the project now has a rider who can add direct input as the team prepares for the next step. The move also gives Beta a rider who can provide experience and feedback as the program develops. Gardner’s view of Kelley as a strong fit underlines the team’s intent. Beta wants experience, feedback and a clean fit for the program. This signing gives it all three.
