Spanish talent David Braceras has experienced plenty of ups and downs since stepping into the MX2 World Championship, but the young rider continues to show determination and progression at the highest level. After starting his GP journey with F&H Kawasaki, followed by a challenging season at Fantic, Braceras made the move to JM Honda for 2025. Based in Lommel, he has embraced the Belgian lifestyle and the demanding sand training that comes with it, while working hard to edge closer to the front of the MX2 World Championship.
We caught up with Braceras to reflect on his team switches, adapting to the Honda, the intensity of the MX2 class, and his ambitions for the future as he looks to secure his place in the world championship for 2026.
GateDrop: David, let’s go back to the end of the 2024 season… How did the move to JM Honda come about for the 2025 season?
Braceras: When Fantic told me at the end of 2024 that they will not continue in the MX2 World Championship class, I knew I needed to find a team for this year. My priority was to stay in Belgium or Holland because I feel better when I live there like I was with F&H Racing. I sent a message directly to Yentel (Martens) and then I went to the workshop to talk with Jacky. I tried the bike and I was happy. After we were talking for a few months and in the end we arrived to an agreement.
GateDrop: What were your first impressions of the JM Honda setup compared to your previous teams?
Braceras: I was happy with the people the bike and the team from day one. I was also good in Lommel living in the workshop close to everything. It felt like home.
GateDrop: Being part of the JM Honda team has seen you based in Lommel – quite a bit different to Spain! How have you found living there and putting in the laps at the brutal track?
Braceras: Yes, it has already been some years ago that I am not living in Spain (laughs) so I’m used to live far from my home already. Like I said, from day one it felt like home. I have everything in the same place and I really like it. The most important – training in Lommel almost every week helps me a lot to continue progressing.
GateDrop: Lommel is known for its brutal sand — has training and racing there given you an edge in the tougher GP conditions?
Braceras: For sure, it helps a lot in all type of terrains.
GateDrop: How have you adapted to the Honda compared to the bikes you’ve raced before?
Braceras: I liked it directly. I felt really comfortable and I was happy with the engine as well.
GateDrop: Was there anything in particular you had to change in your riding style to suit the JM Honda?
Braceras: Not too much, I just had small things to adapt. But when you feel good from the beginning the process to adapt is really quick and quite easy.
GateDrop: You were with the Fantic team for the 2024 season, it seemed like they had a lot of bike problems. Was that frustration for you and how was it with the team?
Braceras: It was a difficult year for everybody. I worked every day like I always do, I never stopped believing and trying to do my best in every race. The things that happened out of my control, I couldn’t do anything about.
GateDrop: You were actually with the F&H Kawasaki team for your rookie season, a good team! How was it working with them and Marc de Reuver? Was it disappointing you couldn’t stay there for more than one year? I thought you did pretty good as a rookie!
Braceras: They give me the opportunity to live the dream – something I was waiting for since I was a kid – I will be grateful about it the rest of my life. I learned a lot from Marc, he taught me many things and it was the biggest step I did in just one year so I was really happy. I was really happy with my progression that year and how I finished my rookie season. The plan was actually to continue with them the year after but a few things changed which meant I couldn’t.
GateDrop: What were your expectations coming into the MX2 World Championship this year, and do you feel you’ve met them before your injury?
Braceras: My goal was to be consistency in the top ten. I was there more often than others years and from the beginning. The middle of the season I was little struggling a little with myself but then I turned it around again and I was good until I injured my hip.
GateDrop: How do you handle the mental pressure of racing at the highest level in MX2?
Braceras: With the pressure I’m good. I have learnt from many things during the years that have made me stronger. I just focus in me, working hard and I just think about that. Every time that I have pressure it is good. It means that the people around me they expect me to do good because I can do good… If they don’t think I can do good then they don’t put pressure on me because they stop believing in me.
GateDrop: You are pretty consistent around the P8-P14 mark, just how hard is it to make the next step? I feel like if you gained a second a lap you wouldn’t be far off the top five – but that’s probably the hardest second to gain (laughs)?
Braceras: True, this year I felt closer to it compared to the last two years. It is quite hard to make that step but I don’t think is impossible. I will just working hard, feeling comfortable and starting in front race by race, I’m sure one day I can be there. This is a puzzle and you need all the pieces to make it.
GateDrop: How would you describe the level of MX2? It seems very fast out there… Faster than a lot of people probably realise!
Braceras: The speed is very high and not only for one lap either. It is the same speed during the whole moto and there are many riders split by less than a second per lap. We are all the young riders and we give it 110% every race. The starts are really important.
GateDrop: What’s been the biggest challenge of this season so far – and what’s been the most rewarding moment?
Braceras: The most difficult was when I twisted my ankle without even crashing… I even broke a small bone of it, I worked very hard in Reydes Fisioterapia for two weeks to arrive and race in Loket. I still managed to do solid. In Lommel I still managed a good Saturday with a ninth in the qualifying race. In the first moto I had a really small crash but a bike hit on me and I got injured again… I knew that was my season over. The best moment of course was the first moto of the season in Argentina with a fourth.
GateDrop: The JM Honda team have already confirmed they’ll part ways with Honda at the end of the season so that probably means you need to find yourself another team for the 2026 season?
Braceras: I am talking with a few teams. I hope I can continue racing the MX2 World Championship next year. If not, I’m open to going to any part of the world to race.
GateDrop: How likely is it at the moment you’ll be racing the MX2 World Championship again next year? I believe it’s your final year in the class?
Braceras: That’s exactly what I want – to race in the MX2 World Championship. I believe I can make the step to ride at the front with a good team behind me and that’s my goal.
GateDrop: Just how hard is it to get yourself a good deal racing MX2 GP’s? Have you earned decent money since making the move up from EMX250?
Braceras: You know, Motocross in this time is very difficult, especially here in Europe. It is already very difficult to arrive in the World Championship and ride for free. Then to have a normal salary, if you are around the top ten it is normal to have a normal salary like a normal job but nothing crazy. It is really important to know what you are going to do in the future because it is very very very difficult to have enough money from motocross for the rest of your life.
GateDrop: There’s a lot of Spanish talent at the moment… Yourself, Farres and Oliver in MX2, Garcia is flying in EMX250 – you guys just need Prado to sort himself out (laughs). Are you pleased to see plenty of Spanish talent starting to emerge? The future looks bright!
Braceras: It is very nice. Now with Fernandez and Prado, it is amazing to have them at the top of our sport. Farres, Oliver and myself grew up together since the 65cc days and it is very nice that all three from the same generation are racing the world championship… That has never happened before in our country and it is very nice. With Garcia, he is coming very very strong for the future. We also have a really young kid who is coming called Pau Caudet. Next year will be his first year racing the 125cc. If he can have some luck he will also be racing the world championship in a few years, I’m sure.
