As the Brazilian motocross scene continues to gather momentum, few figures are more central to its rise than Reinaldo Almeida. The Honda Brazilian team manager has played a key role in elevating the national championship to new heights, attracting international talent while continuing to develop homegrown riders. With strong links to Honda HRC and an ever-growing presence on the global stage, Almeida’s project is quickly becoming very exciting.
We caught up with Almeida after his visit to the MXGP paddock in Spain, where he was supporting Enzo Lopes as part of their pre-season preparations. From experiencing the brutal conditions of a muddy Grand Prix to discussing the rapid growth of Brazilian motocross, his insights offer a fascinating look into both the challenges and ambitions of a team firmly on the rise.
GateDrop: Reinaldo, you were in Spain for the GP, have you ever been to a European round of MXGP before? What were your thoughts on the event? I promise you the paddock isn’t usually that muddy (laughs).
Almeida: Yes. We came here with our rider Enzo Lopes to continue our pre-season preparation. I’ve been to a few GPs before, but never with the level of access we have now, so it’s definitely been an amazing experience. About the mud… it’s crazy to see how many muddy races the GP has had lately!
GateDrop: What were your thoughts on the track? Not exactly Brazilian conditions – the track was gnarly!
Almeida: The track was really gnarly. I was impressed by how the top riders were pushing in those conditions, and also by how well the bikes can handle it.
GateDrop: Enzo finished 17-18 in the races – I thought he rode well in the conditions. How would you sum up his weekend?
Almeida: Our focus is the Brazilian championship. Everything here is new for us, so our main goal was to keep improving our pre-season preparation and to learn as much as possible with the HRC crew. Of course, we always want more, but it was a positive weekend. We left safe and better than we arrived—that was the goal.
GateDrop: It seems you have a good relationship with Honda HRC in Europe – it could lead to more opportunities in the future?
Almeida: Yes, we are building a very good relationship, and I truly hope this is just the beginning. Since I was a kid, even before I really understood life, I was already in love with HRC, so it’s truly a dream to be living this. I also feel very lucky to have Marcus (Pereira de Freitas) there—I’m a big fan of him as a person and his career.
GateDrop: What were your thoughts on the level in MXGP? Enzo rode well but his best lap was six seconds off Lucas Coenen—that’s quite crazy, right?
Almeida: The level is incredibly high. The way the top riders ride is completely different from what we have in Brazil. They push all the time, and even when they make a mistake, they find a way to recover in the next sector. It’s beautiful to watch.
GateDrop: What were your thoughts on the other classes and the format? I personally think it’s great to help bring through the youth!
Almeida: I really like seeing EMX running alongside the main classes. We also have another Brazilian rider racing there—a rider I have a strong history with—so I followed the races closely. It’s great to see this format and how effective it is in developing the next generation.
GateDrop: I have to ask you about Bernardo Tiburcio – what an EMX250 he had! He won the Brazilian title for you last year. You must have been sad to lose him, but it’s nice to see him race EMX250 – were you impressed with his performance in Spain?
Almeida: Bernardo and I have a long history together. I’m always happy to see him doing well. When we finished our contract last year, I told him, “this is not goodbye, it’s just see you soon.”
GateDrop: Let’s talk about the Brazilian series. Last year you won the title with Stephen Rubini – you must have been very happy with that?
Almeida: Last year was amazing. We dominated all classes—250 and 450, indoor and outdoor—which hasn’t been done by a team in Brazil for many years. I was lucky to have an incredible group working together.
GateDrop: Stephen moved to America—part of you must have been sad, but also understood? It’s always been his dream…
Almeida: Stephen is another rider I have a strong connection with, especially since 2023 when he helped us during a very difficult time for the team. We talked a lot about his move to America, and honestly, I supported it immediately. He’s still very young, and I hope we can work together again in the future.
GateDrop: This year, Enzo Lopes will do a full series and you’ve got Jeremy Van Horebeek. There’s no doubt you’ll be right at the front again!
Almeida: I’m very happy to have both riders. Jeremy came to us last year and we connected immediately. He helped us a lot with his experience and work ethic. It’s also amazing to see how respected he is in the paddock—every time I come to a GP, people speak very highly of him. I feel lucky to have him on the team.
As for Enzo, it’s a big moment to have him back in Brazil. The fans are really excited. I remember our first conversation—I told him he could choose any team and that I wouldn’t push hard in negotiations. If he signed with us, it should be because he truly believes in our project. So it’s an honour that he chose our team. I have no doubt both riders will be strong—they are working very hard.
GateDrop: The Brazilian series is getting stronger all the time—we’ve got Glenn Coldenhoff, Fabio Santos and Greg Aranda as well. You must be delighted to see the sport grow in your home country?
Almeida: It’s still a bit surreal for us to see this. Many people in the MXGP paddock have told me they are excited to follow our championship. As a fan of the sport, it makes me very happy to see Brazil becoming a reference. Now we need to keep working hard to maintain this level.
GateDrop: For people that don’t know, I believe there’s a rule that every team must field Brazilian riders and can’t only have foreign riders. Can you explain that?
Almeida: Yes, it’s a simple but effective rule. For each foreign rider, the team must also have a Brazilian rider. It’s a good way to ensure that top Brazilian riders don’t lose opportunities.
GateDrop: Glenn Coldenhoff finished third in MXGP last year—what a season. He’s probably the favourite on paper, but he’ll need to adapt to a different style of racing. What do you think will be his biggest challenge?
Almeida: I have no doubt he will be strong from the first round. I listen a lot to Jeremy, and he always speaks very highly of Glenn. It will be a big challenge for us to compete against him, but we are honoured to have him racing in Brazil.
GateDrop: You’ve worked with Jeremy Van Horebeek before, but he was injured at the start of last year. What’s he like to work with?
Almeida: Even though we won everything last year, it definitely wasn’t easy—we had to fight through many challenges. Jeremy became like my right-hand man, and I think that says a lot about him. He’s also become a good friend, and I believe we still have a long journey ahead together.
GateDrop: Do you think Jeremy or Enzo could race more MXGP rounds this year? You mentioned Lommel for Jeremy…
Almeida: Our main focus is the Brazilian championship, so we’ll take it round by round. But we definitely have this idea in mind. I believe Jeremy still has a lot to show at that level, and for Enzo, it’s always a valuable learning experience.
GateDrop: Brazil doesn’t currently have an MXGP round—would you like to see that return in the future?
Almeida: Some important people in our sport have been discussing this recently. I’ve already received a few calls with questions about hosting a GP. I really hope we can make it happen—it would be amazing.
