Marco Bezzecchi
Diogo Moreira is poised to land the final seat on the 2026 MotoGP grid. He’s in line for a move to Honda satellite team LCR.
It’s been widely reported that Moreira has reached an agreement with Honda, having also been approached by Yamaha. He will partner the newly re-signed Johann Zarco at LCR, replacing Somkiat Chantra.
Moreira enters the Catalan Grand Prix weekend third in the Moto2 standings, 31 points behind leader Manuel Gonzalez. He’s set to be the only rider who steps up from the intermediate class.
He took his first win in the series at the Dutch TT shortly before the summer break, and followed it up with another in Austria. He’d previously finished eighth in back-to-back Moto3 seasons.
Diogo Moreira says Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez have told him to ‘stay calm’
Moreira has a close relationship with Marc Marquez and his brother Alex. They have been training together for years and have become genuine friends.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he was asked whether he’d received any advice from the duo. Marc raced for Honda between 2013 and 2023, while Alex represented LCR for two seasons after a brief stint at the factory team.
Both riders have previously won Moto2 titles, so their guidance is doubly useful. They have urged him to ‘stay calm’ as his profile grows.
- READ MORE: Neil Hodgson is ‘absolutely’ convinced about how Diogo Moreira will perform on Honda’s MotoGP bike
“They called me four or five years ago to come train, and that’s where it all started,” he said. “The relationship is very good.
“When we go training with them, it’s a good time. I learn a lot, too. And especially when we’re together, we don’t just talk about motorcycles. We talk about other things and laugh, and we learn a lot.”
He added: “They’ve told me I have to stay calm, do what I’ve been doing up until now, and above all, work with an eye toward race Sunday, when the points will be awarded.”
Diogo Moreira responds to claims that his passport is getting him a Honda seat
Moreira’s contract reportedly includes an option to join Honda’s factory team for 2027, based on his performances. This may have been the main reason he preferred their offer to that of Yamaha.
Critics may argue that Moreira’s nationality has had an undue influence on his impending ascension. MotoGP is returning to Brazil next year.
That makes a move for the 21-year-old particularly advantageous in a commercial sense. But when that narrative was put to him, Moreira completely dismissed it.
“I don’t care,” he said. “I don’t care what people say, and I think I’m proving it on the track, that it’s not just about the flag.
“I’m out there fighting. I think so, the flag helps, but it’s not everything. In the end, there’s a lot going on, and I think I’m proving it this year.”
The Moto2 race at the Catalan Grand Prix gets underway at 11.15am UK time on Sunday.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
