Carmelo Ezpeleta reveals that four-podium Moto2 rider is attracting ‘a lot of interest’ from MotoGP teams

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The CEO of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta, has revealed one South American rider currently in the midst of a Moto2 title fight who is gaining interest from multiple teams in MotoGP.

The Moto2 season is hotting up as the championship surpassed the halfway mark of the season at the end of the Czech Republic Grand Prix weekend.

American rider Joe Roberts won his first race of the season in Brno, becoming the seventh rider of the season to register a win in the second-tier of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

The Moto2 championship is currently being led by Manuel Gonzalez atop a Kalex bike, a manufacturer that has won every constructors’ title since 2013.

The Spaniard has also gained some interest from MotoGP teams, including Yamaha, who are delaying the renewal of Jack Miller’s contract to see how 2025 works out for the 22-year-old.

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Diogo Moreira is ‘on the radar’ of a few MotoGP teams for a seat in 2026

Diogo Moreira made history in June at the Dutch TT when he became the first Brazilian to win a race in Moto2. The 21-year-old dominated the field with a pole position in qualifying and a fastest lap on his way to the chequered flag in the race.

Alex Barros is the only Brazilian to race in MotoGP since its inaugural season in 2002. Barros went on to win three Grands Prix in the premier class of motorcycle racing before going on to compete in the Brazilian Superbike championship.

Speaking to Grande Premio about the chances of there being another South American rider in MotoGP soon, Ezpeleta replied, “Diogo Moreira, from Brazil, is having a very good impact in Moto2.

“I know that there is a lot of interest from many teams in the top category in being able to count on Diogo for the future.”

Ezpeleta also noted Moto3 riders Valentin Perrone and Marco Morelli as up-and-comers who are ‘doing very well’ in their development. Perrone and Morelli stand in 13th and 27th in the Moto3 riders’ championship, respectively.

What MotoGP teams are interested in signing Diogo Moreira?

A number of teams are keen on having Moreira on their bike for the 2026 season, including Trackhouse, Repsol Honda and Prima Pramac Yamaha.

During Jorge Martin’s contract dispute with Aprilia, there were reports that Ai Ogura could be promoted to the official Aprilia team from Trackhouse, and that there was ‘chatter’ about Moreira possibly replacing Ogura at the American team.

Honda was following Martin’s situation with Aprilia very closely and after he backed down from an Aprilia exit, the Japanese team turned their attention to Moreira as a possible replacement for Luca Marini, who is facing the chopping block.

Yamaha is also considering Diogo Moreira for a seat on the 2026 MotoGP grid while they decide on the futures of satellite riders Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, with World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu already set to join the team in 2026. The team sees the Brazilian’s nationality as a way to tap into the South American market and the benefits it would bring the team.

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