Racing with my son and loving it! Just here to have fun not chase Nag 1… but Gold Cup #1 would be nice.

I started racing in April 2021 at age 14. I’m having fun racing and spending time with my mom and dad. My dad and a couple of my friends are racing too.

My name is Renato Pereira da Silva. I was born October 1, 1969, in Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil. I have one older brother, 2 older sisters and 3 younger brothers. Unfortunately, I lost one of my younger brothers when he was only 21. He was also a BMXer. I have always loved all kinds of sports. I first learned about BMX through a TV commercial about a Brazilian-manufactured bike. The theme song of the commercial, which I remember very well was “Í Want To Ride My Bicycle” by Queen. When I was 13 my mother bought me my first bike, a used one, which I shared with two of my brothers. When I was 14, my mother bought two of my brothers and me our first 20-inch BMX bikes. I raced in the following World Championship races - 1988 Belgium, 1989 Brazil, 1990 France, 1991 Norway, 1992 Brazil, 1993 Netherlands, 1994 U.S.A., 1995 Colombia, 2000 Argentina, 2001 U.S.A., 2002 Brazil, 2004 Netherlands, 2005 France, 2006 Brazil, 2016 Colombia, and 2017 U.S.A. I spent four and a half months in France with friends in 1991 and learned to speak French. I am fluent in Portuguese, French, and English. I was issued my first tourist U.S. visa in August 1993. I spent two months in Boston and then went to California. I applied for a Green Card upon arrival in California. Tourist Visa stays are usually for a six-month period at which time you must leave the U.S. and then can return for another 6 months. In June 2005 I went to Brazil to visit my relatives. I returned to the U.S. in July and was denied entry. Apparently, I had overstayed my tourist visa by two days in 1999 and 2005. I was not allowed to reenter the U.S. for 5 years. I, of course, continued to race and coach BMX. I also received my bachelor's and master's degree in Physical Education. In 2015 I applied for and received approval for my green card. I returned to California on July 4th, 2015. In 2018 I applied for U.S. citizenship. I became an American citizen on December 14, 2022. Now 40 years later, I have raced every year. Raced in many international and world championship races and won numerous Brazilian and American National and State races, was among the top 12 AA Pros in the U.S., was inducted into the Brazilian Hall of Fame in 2020, and was nominated for the U.S. Hall of Fame in 2023. I am still racing and this year I won for the 6th time the NAG (National Age Group). My favorite pastime is coaching BMX riders of all ages and skills. I enjoy working with the younger riders – the future BMX champions. It feels good to use my experience to help riders of all ages improve their skills and overcome their fears.