ENZO LOPES INTERVIEW: PRIVATEER SITTING 3RD IN 250 WEST POINTS

Brazilian born Enzo Lopes has quietly turned consistent top five rides into third in points in the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250 West Coast Championship. Although he has yet to finish on the podium, the 23-year-old has used his optimistic outlook to make the most, every time he is on the track. No doubt benefitting from the powerful, yet privateer Muc Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha team, Lopes has been the team standout. Going into the last west coast rounds, Lopes has the immediate goal of making the Denver podium, and then the overall West Coast podium. We caught up with lopes after he dried out after the new jersey supercross mudder.

BY JIM KIMBALL

2023 DENVER SUPERCROSS // FULL COVERAGE

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FIRST LET’S BEGIN WITH YOUR LAST RACE, THE 250 EAST/WEST SHOOTOUT IN THE NEW JERSEY MUD. It was completely different from anything I had seen before because we got to practice on a dry track and do the heat race on the dry track. Then when the Main arrived and there was lightning, we had to wait for two hours. Then it was a completely different track. I was happy because I grew up in Brazil riding in the mud because where I lived, it rained a lot. A fifth place in the shootout was good. I felt like if I would have had a little bit of a better start, I could have podiumed. I was seventh around the first lap, and later three seconds off the podium, right behind Max Vohland and Hunter Lawrence. Overall, it was a good experience. I had a lot of fun playing in the mud. I did not have too much fun cleaning myself after, but it was nice racing the boys. I had a blast.  

Enzo blends in with the rain and crowd at East Rutherford.

I SUSPECT WITH A BETTER START YOU COULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE A WINNING. Yes, especially with the way the conditions were. Because the first two corners dictate much of how the race is going to be, as well as your vision and goggles. For Max Anstie, he had a clear track, and obviously it was better for him, and his goggle situation. For me, I was already pulling tear-offs and using my roll-off on the start straightaway.

The first few laps were spent learning the track, and it was hard to judge where to pass, because if you get out of the main line, it was tricky and muddy. 

Enzo has been the sleeper pick in the 250 class sitting six points ahead of Star Yamaha’s Levi Kitchen.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WEST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP YOU ARE THIRD IN POINTS, THAT IS INCREDIBLE. It is cool. Obviously, some guys got hurt and injured, I am still there every weekend doing my best. This season has been really good for me. I still have a few things I would like to do before the season is done, and I have two more races. My only bad race was A2, the Triple Crown, where I crashed a lot, but all the other races, I have been there. Every practice, every qualifying session, I have been up there with the boys. It has been incredible and I am super happy.

I am happy enjoying the moment and to be third in points is amazing. If people realized where I came from in Brazil, they may think it is unbelievable. 

A lot of learning has come from his teammates at ClubMX such as veteran rider Phil Nicoletti.

ENZO, WITH BEING THIRD IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP YOU ARE AHEAD OF FOUR FACTORY RIDERS; THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING. I don’t really compare myself to others; I just compare me to myself and what I can improve. I don’t think “oh this is a factory guy I’m passing”, I just try to be better every day and work towards myself. It is cool to be up there with being on a privateer team. Club MX has grown a lot and for us to be there, it is awesome. 

AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A POINTS POSITION, YOU ARE THE MAIN MAN AT CLUB MX. I don’t know what to say but I guess that I am. Jeremy Martin has been doing well. Phil (Nicoletti) got hurt, unfortunately and so did Garrett (Marchbanks). Coming into the year, Garrett was feeling good. All the boys and I were getting along well. I don’t see myself as the “guy”, because I respect Jeremy a lot for everything he has done. He is building towards outdoors and he is going to surprise a lot of people. 

There are many privateers who race in the 250 class, but Enzo has stuck out amongst the rest. He finished fifth overall last year but now sits third in the points.

WHILE YOU ARE THIRD IN POINTS, YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN ACTUAL PODIUM FINISH, BUT THERE ARE TWO MORE RACES. It has been like that the whole season; I have been on the edge. At the beginning of the season, like A1 and San Diego, I had my starts dialed but my fitness was not good. I did not really believe that I could be in the position as where now, my starts are terrible but once I get going, I know I can be up there. I just have to put it together for the last two races, get a good start and ride my own race. You just must put all the pieces of the puzzle together as everyone says. I am literally on the edge, as I got two fourth places, and three fifth places, so I am right there.  

 LAST YEAR, YOU DID REALLY WELL AND FINISHED FIFTH OVERALL, BUT NOW HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER STEP FORWARD. WOULD YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO BEING ON THE SAME TEAM AS LAST YEAR? Part of it yes. I’m used to the bike, even when I got back from boot camp in October, I told the team “I want the same settings as Salt Lake last year, because that is when I did a really good job in qualifying.” I am not really a picky guy as far as set up wise, so the team does a good job with that.

I have always had some moments of speed last year, but I was struggling with my arm. I had carpal tunnel, so it really cost me when the race time came, because I could not hold on to the bike for more than two laps. After I got surgery, something clicked, especially my confidence knowing that you can race hard for fifteen minutes. Then training at Club with the guys, like Jeremy and Phil I am feeling good about myself. it has been a huge improvement from last year to this year.  

WATCHING YOU RIDE, YOU CAN NOTICE THE HUGE IMPROVEMENT. Part of it is also the mindset. You come in feeling so good, then you qualify well, and you start doing well. Your mindset changes and your perspective changes and the guys you compare yourself to changes. So right now, I know I am one of the guys, and it is time to make it happen.  

YOU ARE NOT THAT FAR OFF FROM R.J. HAMPSHIRE WHO IS SECOND IN POINTS, IS PASSING HIM A POSSIBILITY? Anything can happen, as we have seen plenty of times in the sport. Obviously, I want to finish third in points, but my focus is still race-to-race.  I just want to focus on the next one which is Denver and after Denver, Salt Lake. I know if I do my best, the result and the outcome is just a consequence. Because if I do my best, I will be happy and the results will come.

Enzo’s mindset has been different than most. Rather than focusing on the future, he focuses on the present.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BEST APPROACH, TAKING IT RACE BY RACE. This year, I have just been enjoying so much with the whole team. We get to go racing, and it is just super fun around the guys. I have been telling them that I am riding the wave. I am just enjoying myself, enjoying the bike and everything. I am just being grateful for everything; the team, how the bike is, and how I am doing.

The universe is seeing that, and when you are happy, it makes things smoother. I just go about this year like race-by-race, day-by-day. I am just having fun overall. I am a bit different from other guys that just focus so much on this and that. I am super relaxed and this is how it works for me. We all have different ways on how to approach things and for me, it is to be relaxed, enjoy everything and take it all in. 

IT’S PRETTY COOL THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE TOP YAMAHA RIDERS IN 250 SUPERCROSS RIGHT NOW. BETWEEN MONSTER ENERGY STAR AND CLUB MX ONLY HAIDEN DEEGAN HAS SURPASSED YOU IN RESULTS. It is super cool, but like I said, I don’t really focus on that. For me, if people knew where I came from and how I grew up racing in Brazil, people, I think would respect more. They don’t know how things are in Brazil and what we must deal with. I did not have Supercross or all this amateur racing and fast kids. It is just completely different.  

I have sacrificed my whole life, came from Brazil, and to be here now, I just take it with gratitude. My friends in Brazil also love it and hopefully, I can do well and keep that third place in points but also get on the box before the season is done. 

Enzo has chosen not to race outdoors this season.

WILL YOU DO OUTDOORS THIS YEAR FOR CLUB MX? The last time I did outdoors was in 2018 and 2019 with Suzuki but ever since then, I was with teams that did not race outdoors like Club MX in 2020 and then Phoenix, in 2021. Last year, I was going to do outdoors for Club but then I had an injury on my wrist. This year, I am not doing outdoors. After Salt Lake, I am going to go home to see my family. I have been racing for seven months, so it has been a while. 

I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT 2024. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THAT? I can’t really say much but the thing is, like I told you, I am super transparent. I am just focused on myself and doing what I can because I still have two more races and I don’t want to worry about like where am I going, and what am I doing. I am just focused on Denver right now. I am not too worried about what is going to happen because I know I am doing my best and whatever happens, happens. Whatever is meant to be, it will be. I am talking to Club MX.  

WOULD YOU WANT TO RACE OUTDOORS OR WORLD SUPERCROSS IF THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE? Part of me is obviously happy to go home and enjoy my family but I am still talking with Club MX about World Supercross. I have not decided 100% if we are doing it or not, so we are still talking.

SO, THERE IS A CHANCE, WE MAY SEE YOU RACING SOME MORE THIS YEAR? Oh yes, for sure.

HOW ABOUT ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ENZO? The way this year has been going, it has been incredible. I am just super grateful and like I said, knowing where I came from, is mind-blowing and that is why I take it all in and enjoy the moment because you never know tomorrow. I am just super happy to be here right now.  

2023 DENVER SUPERCROSS // FULL COVERAGE