Glenn Coldenhoff has never been afraid of a challenge, but his latest career twist might just be one of his most fascinating yet. After finishing third in the MXGP World Championship last season, the Dutch star has stunned the motocross world by signing to race the 2026 Brazilian Motocross series.
What started as a casual chat with team owner Wellington Valadares at the Motocross of Nations in the USA has turned into a brand-new adventure on the other side of the world. And with Brazilian fans welcoming him with open arms before he’s even set foot in the country, “The Hoff” now finds himself stepping into a series packed with passion, energy, and growing international attention.
In this exclusive interview, Glenn explains how the deal came together, why he turned down MXGP and AMA offers, and what his 2026 program will look like – including pre-season races in Europe, a self-run team, potential Dutch Masters appearances, and even the possibility of lining up at selected MXGP rounds if the stars align.
GateDrop: Glenn, it’s finally official. You will race the Brazilian Motocross series in 2026 – how did this deal all come about?
Coldenhoff: Yes, the news is finally out. I actually met the team owner at the MXoN in the USA. We had a short chat, and he (Wellington Valadares) told me about his plans. The people behind the project were clearly motivated and really wanted me to ride for them. It took quite some time to finalize the deal, but we made it happen. I’m very happy with this new challenge, and at the same time very curious to see how everything will be. I’ve already received a lot of messages from Brazilian fans welcoming me with open arms, which is great to see.
GateDrop: Is it a one year deal at the moment or is it longer?
Coldenhoff: It’s a one year deal with an option for an additional year. If I get good opportunities for 2027 in MXGP or the USA, I’m free to go. If I decide to continue in Brazil, it will have to be with the same team I signed with for 2026.
GateDrop: It looks like you’ve already been in Brazil to sign the contract. Did you see the factory etc over there already and what’s it like?
Coldenhoff: No, I haven’t been to Brazil yet. We did the photo and video shoot at Carlos Campano’s place in Sevilla, Spain. He has raced in Brazil for many years and he has been my main contact in making this deal happen.
GateDrop: It’s funny because Brazil is on the other side of the world but you know quite a lot of riders that race there – Jeremy Van Horebeek, Greg Aranda and Stephen Rubini to name a few – did you speak to any of these guys before signing and what did they have to say about Brazil?
Coldenhoff: No, I only spoke with Jeremy after the press release. He told me he was treated like family from the very first day. I feel the same way at this moment, and we were joking that I probably won’t be the last rider to make the move to Brazil.
GateDrop: Did you have any options to race MXGP and/or AMA in 2026? We’ll miss you at the GP’s!
Coldenhoff: Yes, I did have options to race both MXGP and AMA in 2026. In the end, I decided not to move forward with them because the financial terms didn’t reflect the level of commitment and performance that is required at the top of the sport. I finished third in the MXGP World Championship last season, and I believe results like that should be valued accordingly. I always give 110% to compete for the highest goals, but to achieve that, everything needs to be right: fair compensation, a competitive bike, and a strong team around me. That complete package wasn’t there for 2026. I truly appreciate the interest, though, and who knows what the future may bring.
GateDrop: What’s the plan to prepare for the Brazilian season – it sounds like you’ll go over in January – I guess that will be to ride some tracks over there to see what the conditions are like you’ll be racing? Will you spend much time over there in January?
Coldenhoff: Yes, the plan is to fly to Brazil at the beginning of January to meet the team and partners, attend the official team presentation, and ride the bike and tracks. After that, I’ll fly back home and do all the bike training and pre-season races in Europe.
GateDrop: I believe you’ll do some pre season races in Europe and you have plenty of options in France, Italy, Lierop and not forgetting your favourite – Hawkstone! Do you have a plan before the Brazilian season yet – I think there’s a good chance we see you at Hawkstone International?
Coldenhoff: Yes, I will race some pre-season events in Europe. I’ll be running my own team for my European program. I’ve been very busy the past few weeks arranging everything and finding partners to support this project, but we’ve got most of it sorted, so I’m happy to start riding in January. I hope to be at Hawkstone as well. It’s one of my favourite races of the year!
GateDrop: Will you spend much time in Brazil during the season or will you mainly fly there before the event and then fly straight back home?
Coldenhoff: During the season, I’ll mainly fly to the races and return home afterward. If any additional testing is required, I might arrive a bit earlier. This also leaves room for extra races in Europe.
GateDrop: I believe you plan to race some of the Dutch Masters and other events in the Netherlands in 2026 so Dutch fans will still get to see you race regularly?
Coldenhoff: In addition to the Brazilian races, I plan to race in the Netherlands and events like the Keiheuvel. I always enjoy these races because I can spend more time with Dutch and Belgian fans, sponsors, and family. The atmosphere is always great, and it’s fun to race in front of the home crowd. My racing schedule in Europe is not yet confirmed, but in a couple of weeks it will be more clear which races I will do.
GateDrop: I also believe you will race some MXGP World Championship rounds too – obviously it’ll depend on date clashes but I’d imagine two rounds you’d love to race are Arnhem and Lommel – do you have an idea of how many rounds you’d like to race?
Coldenhoff: So far, I haven’t planned to race MXGP, but I wouldn’t rule it out. If things go well and I have a good bike to compete at the highest level there might be possibilities. Of course, Arnhem is always special, so we’ll see.
GateDrop: Injuries exist in this sport – would you be open to a fill in MXGP ride if the opportunity presents itself throughout the season – there aren’t too many races in Brazil so in theory you could race lots of GP rounds as well as Brazil?
Coldenhoff: As for filling in somewhere, I don’t know yet. I’ve made many commitments with different brands to support my European program, and I really appreciate their help. I think there could be a possibility, but all my partners would need to agree on it first.
GateDrop: After everything you’ve done at the MXoN for the Netherlands over the years, Ironman didn’t go to plan – how motivated would you be to race the MXoN again? That’s why it would make sense to do some GP’s, right?
Coldenhoff: The MXoN is always special. This year was very unlucky and disappointing. I will always make sure to be fit and ready to represent my country at the MXoN.
