Advisors have now warned Moto2’s ‘hottest prospect’ that he’d be entering a ‘sporting tomb’ by accepting Honda’s offer

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Honda might have missed out on a chance to sign Jorge Martin following his decision to stay at Aprilia, but they are still set to be huge players in the MotoGP rider market.

The Japanese outfit are in a rather strong position as teams look ahead to the 2026 MotoGP season, with Honda the only manufacturer who has multiple seats to potentially fill. All four Aprilia and KTM bikes on the grid are taken, but there may be a Ducati or a Yamaha on offer.

Joan Mir is the only Honda rider who currently has a contract for next term. But Luca Marini is expected to sign a new one-year contract with Honda to stay with the team for the rest of the current rules era. Johann Zarco is also speaking to Honda about a new contract at LCR.

Zarco will likely have a new teammate at LCR next year as Thai rookie Somkiat Chantra is not expected to return. Honda executives are open to replacing Chantra at LCR with a non-Asian rider, which would see the brand abandon their commitment to LCR’s title sponsor Idemitsu.

Diogo Moreira’s advisors are ‘pushing hard’ for him to reject Honda’s three-year contract

The rider leading the race to replace Chantra at LCR is Brazilian Moto2 talent Diogo Moreira, who has caught the eye of most of the MotoGP teams. It has even been said that Honda are destined to sign Moreira for LCR, as they try to thwart Aprilia, Ducati and Yamaha’s interest.

But while MOW reports that Honda have offered Moreira a three-year contract worth €1.5m (£1.3m) a season to move up to MotoGP, some of the Italtrans Racing Team talent’s advisors are now ‘pushing hard’ for the 21-year-old to reject the Tokyo-based squad’s offer for 2026.

READ MORE: Everything to know about LCR from the MotoGP team’s riders to Honda ties

Moreira is now considered the ‘hottest prospect’ on the MotoGP rider market for 2026. But the Sao Paulo native’s camp fear Moreira would enter a ‘sporting tomb’ at LCR if he accepts Honda’s offer. Moreira’s advisors fear Honda’s myriad of problems will not launch his career.

Diogo Moreira will decide his future for 2026 during the 2025 summer break

Honda may not have long to wait to learn if Moreira will agree to replace Chantra at LCR, or if they have missed out on another leading target after Martin surrendered to staying at Aprilia for 2026. The Japanese squad were ready in case Martin could break his contract at Aprilia.

Moreira is expected to decide his future during the 2025 summer break, having merited the interest of multiple MotoGP teams while not being opposed to staying at Italtrans next year. Moreira would prefer to stay at Italtrans over another Moto2 team if he does not move up.

The 21-year-old hit the summer break fourth in the Moto2 standings with 128 points to trail Manuel Gonzalez on 188, Aron Canet on 163 and Barry Baltus on 134. Moreira did not get a point in Germany or Czechia, after becoming the first Brazilian Moto2 race-winner at Assen.