Marco Bezzecchi
Honda might not be signing Jorge Martin for the 2026 MotoGP season, but they are still seeking changes to their rider roster with Diogo Moreira now in line to join LCR.
The Japanese outfit have been one of the most active in the MotoGP rider market this term, as Luca Marini being out of contract opened a door for Honda to target Martin. But Marini is set to secure new terms after Martin yielded to Aprilia’s refusal to let him break his contract.
Changes are planned at LCR for 2026, though, with Honda expected to axe Somkiat Chantra after an underwhelming rookie season in their satellite squad. It is also expected that Honda will put Chantra in their works World Superbikes team for 2026 and sign Moreira to join LCR.
A deal is believed to be imminent for Moreira to move up from Moto2 in the 2026 MotoGP season with LCR on a multi-year factory Honda contract. Reports suggest Honda gazumped Yamaha’s offer to sign Moreira, as their Iwata rivals wanted the 21-year-old to join Pramac.
Neil Hodgson is ‘convinced’ Diogo Moreira will be ‘successful’ in MotoGP at LCR Honda
Yamaha have given up on their interest in signing Moreira, as they now expect him to accept Honda’s offer to debut in MotoGP for LCR. And Neil Hodgson is “already convinced” that the Brazilian will be “successful” in MotoGP, having been impressed by his Moto2 performances.
READ MORE: Everything to know about LCR from the MotoGP team’s riders to Honda ties
Hodgson has also seen shades of KTM star Pedro Acosta in Moreira’s confidence, which can help set the Sao Paulo native up to succeed in MotoGP on the Honda RC213V next year. The bike should also suit Moreira’s riding style, which has yielded two Moto2 race wins in 2025.
“He looks immaculate on that bike,” Hodgson said on TNT Sports 2 (23/8, 13:35). “You know when you just look at a rider who’s fully in control.
“He’s ahead of the bike and, especially on this track, all we’ve seen all weekend here is people making mistakes, looking ragged, looking scruffy [and] looking slightly out of control. Not Moreira. [He is] just [an] absolute class act. He’s just going from strength to strength.
“He dominated last weekend. He is the real deal. I’m a fan. He’s unreal… He ticks all the boxes. But the main priority is, is he fast enough for MotoGP? Absolutely. Will MotoGP suit the way he rides a bike? Absolutely. He’s a really, really exciting prospect.
“You can tell he’s got a lot of self-belief, like Pedro. I’m already convinced that he’s going to be successful in MotoGP. He knows he’s going to be good. He’s not going to find it difficult. He is the real deal.”
Diogo Moreira could join the factory Honda MotoGP team in 2027
Additionally, Hodgson expects Moreira’s Honda contract will be worth €15m (£12.5m), with the Brazilian likely to make €5m (£4.3m) a season deal through 2028. Only the first of those years is expected to be at LCR, before a potential graduation to Honda’s works team in 2027.
Honda are betting on Moreira as they look ahead to the 2027 MotoGP regulations and who can lead their line-up. Marini’s new Honda contract is only expected to be for 2026, as Joan Mir’s existing deal to ride for their factory team is also due to expire at the end of next year.
So, should Moreira adapt to the RC213V like Hodgson expects at LCR next season and also convince Honda that he will suit the 2027 rules, Marini and Mir may have to look over their shoulders very soon. Moreira should also have a great teammate in Johann Zarco to rely on.
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