Marco Bezzecchi
Honda now look set to miss out on a chance to sign Jorge Martin with the Spaniard set to stay at Aprilia, but they are about to make a move in the 2026 MotoGP rider market.
The Japanese manufacturer have big decisions to make over their rider line-up for the 2026 MotoGP season. While Joan Mir is under contract for the factory Honda squad through next term, fellow works rider Luca Marini is currently set to be out of contract at the end of 2025.
Honda even have decisions to make over the rider line-up at their satellite team, LCR, where Johann Zarco and rookie Somkiat Chantra are also due to become free agents at the close of the current campaign. Having several vacancies opened the door for Honda to eye Martin.
Yet while Honda and Martin agreed on a three-year contract for the reigning MotoGP riders’ champion to join them next season, the 27-year-old is now set to stay at Aprilia. Despite the Spaniard’s view that he has an exit clause, Martin has yielded and will stay at Aprilia in 2026.
Honda are now ‘destined’ to sign Diogo Moreira to replace Somkiat Chantra at LCR
Several cogs are now in motion, with Sky Italia reporting that Marini is in talks with Honda to sign a new contract. The Japanese outfit are open to retaining the Italian for at least another year. Yet Honda might promote Zarco from LCR into their factory line-up at Marini’s expense.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Somkiat Chantra from career to height
Honda would opt to promote Zarco if they decide to release Marini. But the Frenchman, for his part, would like to stay at LCR next season as long as he receives greater factory support from Honda as the third official rider. Zarco would also likely see a new rider join him at LCR.
Chantra has failed to achieve the expectations that Honda placed upon the Thai, after giving the 26-year-old his MotoGP debut at LCR this term. He has scored just one point through 11 rounds with his P15 in the Dutch Grand Prix, so Honda and Chantra separating is ‘imminent’.
Honda have already picked Chantra’s successor at LCR, as well, as HRC have chosen to sign Moto2 star Diogo Moreira to a 2026 MotoGP contract. Honda are ‘destined’ to sign Moreira as they are keen to beat the interest that Aprilia, Ducati and Yamaha are all now presenting.
Jake Dixon branded Diogo Moreira ‘desperate’ after his Moto2 German Grand Prix crashes
Moreira put Aprilia, Ducati, Honda and Yamaha on notice with his superb run of form in the past eight Moto2 rounds. While the Brazilian went from hero to zero in the German Grand Prix last week, he ranked in the top five in every Grand Prix from the Qatar GP to Dutch GP.
READ MORE: Everything to know about LCR from the MotoGP team’s riders to Honda ties
The Italtrans Racing Team rider also became the first Brazilian to win a Moto2 race at the TT Circuit Assen. He also showed his race craft at the Sachsenring as Moreira climbed from P25 on the grid to P4 by Lap 16 of 25, before a ruinous end to his race saw the 21-year-old crash.
Moto2 rival Jake Dixon branded Moreira ‘desperate’ on TNT Sports 2 after the Moto2 race at the German GP. The Brazilian hit the rear of the Briton’s bike after running into Dixon in their fight for P3, before naively returning to the road at slow speed right in front of David Alonso.
Yamaha were leading the race to sign Honda target Diogo Moreira to join Pramac
Moreira will start the Moto2 Czech Grand Prix from the pit lane as his penalty for returning to the circuit in an unsafe manner in Germany. But his form before the round drew interest from the premier class paddock, with Honda fighting Aprilia to sign Moreira for MotoGP in 2026.
Aprilia would like the Sao Paulo native to race with Trackhouse Racing next term. But it was previously thought that Yamaha were leading the race to sign Moreira before Honda edged ahead with their plan for him to replace Chantra at LCR, which appears set to win the race.
Yamaha would like to put Moreira at Pramac alongside double World Superbikes champion Toprak Razgatlioglu next year, which could force Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira off the grid. But Pramac would prefer to run Moreira in Moto2 during 2026 before any move to MotoGP.
So, Yamaha could sign Moreira to ride for Pramac in 2027 if the Brazilian elects to sign with the Iwata natives instead of their Japanese rivals, Honda. Pramac’s position and/or Honda’s interest in Moreira, then, may now be what keeps Miller or Oliveira in MotoGP next season.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
