Derek Kelley

Derek Kelley's path to a factory ride is one of the most remarkable in the paddock. Born in Idaho, he got his first bike at three years old and was one of the fastest 65cc riders in his state before the family moved to Southern California in 2011 so he could race the best amateur competition in the country. Then, in 2016, while preparing for Arenacross, a bike malfunction caused a crash that cost Kelley a kidney and his spleen. The injuries took six to eight months of recovery — and very nearly ended his story before it started.

Kelley rebuilt his career the hard way, coming back through off-road racing with SLR Honda before committing to Supercross and Pro Motocross in 2019. He made his Supercross debut in 2020 with JMC Motorsports, moved to AJE Motorsports/Motul GASGAS for 2021, and broke through as a privateer standout with AEO Powersports KTM in 2022 — earning a national number 41 for 2023, recording his first career Pro Motocross top-ten moto at Thunder Valley, and, in one whirlwind stretch, flying to Cardiff to finish seventh in SX2 at the World Supercross British GP as a fill-in rider before taking third at Red Bull Straight Rhythm back home in California.

His indoor résumé has kept building since: a career-best sixth at the Glendale 250SX West round and top-eight finishes in Anaheim, Salt Lake City, Cleveland and Philadelphia. In 2026, racing for MX6 Racing Kawasaki, he finished ninth in the 250SX East standings despite missing time through injury.

On September 8, 2026, that persistence was rewarded with the biggest opportunity of his career. Beta USA named Kelley the first rider of its brand-new factory 250SX program, signing him to a two-year deal to debut the all-new RX 250F in 2027. Team manager Carlen Gardner cited exactly the qualities Kelley's career has been built on — grit, speed, work ethic and technical feedback — as Beta takes its factory effort into the 250 class for the first time.