Calgary, Canada
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
The Brazilian racer, who built much of his professional career overseas, has spent the past several months back in Brazil, marking his longest stay in the country in more than a decade. It’s a rare pause in a career defined by constant travel, competition and recovery and also one that has brought both comfort and a fresh challenge.
Since returning from the final round of the 2025 World Supercross Championship season in South Africa, Lopes has immersed himself in Brazil’s domestic racing scene, competing in both outdoor nationals and ArenaCross events.
“I’m back home in Brazil,” Lopes tells Kristen Beat on the ‘Unfiltered’ World Supercross YouTube series. “It’s been nice. I’ve been here for a couple months, but I definitely miss traveling the world to race my dirt bike.
“I’ve been home ever since I came back from South Africa. I’ve been here training with a new team, I’ve set a few new goals for myself too.
“I haven’t been home for this long in 10 years because it’s when I moved to California first. So it’s been a while. It’s definitely good, but it’s different. I miss the different kinds of racing, like Supercross and in arenas. So I definitely miss that part. But it’s good to be close to my family, girlfriend and dog. It’s nice.”
I haven’t been home for this long in 10 years … it’s good to be close to my family, girlfriend and dog.
Lopes is currently leading the national series after two rounds, with momentum building as the season unfolds. But the transition back into domestic competition has not been seamless. Unlike the structured split between Supercross and outdoor motocross seasons in the United States, Brazil’s calendar mixes disciplines, forcing riders to constantly switch between riding styles and track conditions.
“It’s different,” Lopes explained. “I’ve been riding outdoors for quite a while now, and then you step into Supercross and ArenaCross. It’s definitely different.”
That adaptability is also being tested against increasingly strong competition. Brazil’s racing scene, once considered relatively modest compared to the United States and Europe, is undergoing rapid growth. International riders and experienced European names are joining the field, raising the overall level of competition.
“The level is very high this year,” Lopes said. “There’s a lot more investment from the teams. We’ve got Greg Aranda racing here, my teammate Jeremy van Horebeek has been a GP champion before, and we’ve got Glenn Coldenhoff too. So yeah, the level is definitely high. It’s good because it keeps me sharp.”
Beyond the track, the sport’s popularity in Brazil is also surging. Lopes has noticed a dramatic increase in fan engagement, from sold-out ArenaCross venues to tens of thousands of viewers tuning into live broadcasts online.
“At one of the first rounds, we had 25,000 people watching live on YouTube,” he said. “For Brazil, that’s pretty cool. I hope this sport keeps getting bigger here.
“I just think the fans here haven’t seen it all like they do in America or Europe. To get to watch a race or an ArenaCross race is harder here, so when they get the opportunity, they really enjoy it.”
That passion was especially visible during last year’s Buenos Aires City GP, where Brazilian fans travelled in large numbers to support Lopes closer to home, after also competing in World Supercross in 2024.
It’s resilience. I actually wanted to get a tattoo of that because I feel like it really describes myself
“It was really, really cool to have them there cheering me on,” he said. “My family went there, a lot of my friends, and I knew a lot of people who went there to watch me.
“It was always my dream to race what basically felt like a home race. To get on a plane for an hour and 30 minutes and then race in front of those fans was really special.”
Despite the momentum he is enjoying now, Lopes’ journey has not been without setbacks. A difficult 2024 season saw him sidelined by complications following a procedure to treat arm pump, costing him valuable time during what should have been a breakthrough year.
“Everyone knows I’ve been through some tough times, some dark times,” he said. “So to be back on my path again, it’s a special feeling. That was definitely tough, but I feel like it helped build me back up again to be where I am today.
“It’s resilience. I actually wanted to get a tattoo of that because I feel like it really describes myself. I’ve been through so much and I still keep going.”
Despite enjoying his return home, Lopes remains firmly focused on the international stage. The Brazilian has repeatedly described World Supercross as the ideal championship for him—combining his love of stadium racing with the opportunity to compete around the globe.
And with Brazil’s motocross scene continuing to grow rapidly, Lopes is increasingly becoming one of the sport’s defining figures in South America while still chasing success on the world stage.
