Honda have now ‘secured’ the signing of in-demand rider Marc Marquez loves for 2026 MotoGP season

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Honda have accelerated their efforts to finalise their 2026 MotoGP rider line-up in recent weeks. And their four-man roster may now have taken shape.

2020 world champion Joan Mir was the only rider who started the season with a multi-year deal. Johann Zarco, Luca Marini and rookie Somkiat Chantra all had to fight for their future.

Zarco’s extension is a formality given that he’s been the brand’s top-performing rider this year. And it emerged before the Austrian Grand Prix that Luca Marini will stay with Honda too.

However, Chantra’s future has been increasingly questioned after he failed to meet expectations in his first half-season. 26th in a championship with 22 full-time riders, he’s often been cut adrift at the back of the field.

Honda beat Yamaha’s ‘impressive’ offer to land Diogo Moreira

Speedweek report that Moto2 talent Diogo Moreira will replace Chantra at LCR in 2026. After direct negotiations with Honda, an agreement has been ‘reached’ for next year.

The sport’s most successful manufacturer tabled an ‘attractive’ offer for the Brazilian, who sits third in the intermediate-class standings after taking his second win of the season in Austria last weekend.

The Race had reported that rival suitors Yamaha were the favourites as they look to fill the second Pramac seat next to Toprak Razgatlioglu. Their Brazilian division already sponsor him, and they tabled an ‘impressive’ three-year proposal.

But Speedweek believe that Honda have gazumped their Japanese competitors. Marc Marquez is clearly a fan of the 21-year-old, whom he seems to have nicknamed ‘Samba’ based on a couple of congratulatory Instagram comments.

Could Diogo Moreira race for the Honda factory team in 2026?

Moreira has naturally indicated a preference to race for a factory team while negotiating with Honda and Yamaha. This would be unusual for a rookie; they normally have to prove themselves at a satellite squad first.

And it’s likely that Moreira will start at LCR next to Zarco in the hope of stepping up to the prestigious factory team for 2027. His arrival coincides with the return of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Intriguingly, AS suggest that Honda could potentially demote Marini to Lucio Cecchinello’s squad under his new deal. That would open up a vacancy for Moreira next to Mir.

Carlo Pernat thinks Moreira could be Chantra 2.0, but his Moto2 results suggest he has a higher ceiling. After finishing 13th in the series last year, he’s made a significant leap.