Diogo Moreira rejected one Yamaha rival before signing his 2026 LCR Honda MotoGP contract

Add as preferred source on Google

Honda have now confirmed that Diogo Moreira will make his MotoGP debut with LCR in the 2026 season, after signing the Brazilian prospect to a multi-year factory contract.

The news of Moreira moving up from Moto2 next term now completes the grid for the 2026 MotoGP season. He will be one of just two rookies in the field alongside Pramac pilot Toprak Razgatlioglu, who will leave World Superbikes after signing a two-year factory Yamaha deal.

Moreira will replace Somkiat Chantra at LCR, as the Thai rider failed to impress Honda in his rookie MotoGP campaign with their satellite team this year. Chantra will join Honda’s works WSBK team next year, having only scored six points through his 13 premier class rounds yet.

LCR will now field a line-up featuring Moreira and Johann Zarco in the 2026 campaign, as Honda recently gave the latter a new multi-year works contract through 2027. Zarco expects Moreira will prove his place in MotoGP and help Honda to prepare for the 2027 regulations.

Diogo Moreira rejected MotoGP moves with Yamaha and Trackhouse to sign with LCR Honda

Honda fended off competition from elsewhere in the MotoGP paddock to sign 2025 Moto2 title contender Moreira, too. Yamaha explored a move to promote Moreira to MotoGP with their satellite squad, Pramac, in 2026. But Yamaha ultimately re-signed Jack Miller for 2026.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Diogo Moreira from net worth to height

Also, The Race now reports that Trackhouse showed an interest in signing Moreira, despite the satellite Aprilia team not having a vacant seat for the 2026 MotoGP season. Trackhouse have Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez under contract only to the American crew through 2026.

Jorge Martin’s failed attempt to leave Aprilia earlier in 2025 might have opened the door for Trackhouse to sign Moreira, had he welcomed their advances. Aprilia considered Ogura as a replacement for Martin, but Trackhouse instantly made it clear that he would stay for 2026.

Ogura’s keyhole surgery to repair the fracture to the top of his right tibia gifted Trackhouse a chance to review alternative future riders, though. Trackhouse wanted to run Moreira in the Aragon test in June, yet tested his Moto2 title rival Manuel Gonzalez on the RSGP25 instead.

Diogo Moreira has signed a 2+1-year factory Honda contract that ignores his rookie results

It was also said back in July that Ducati made Moreira a MotoGP contract offer to try to fend off interest in the Sao Paulo native emerging from Honda and Yamaha. But Honda have won the race for Moreira’s signature after agreeing a multi-year factory contract starting in 2026.

According to Motorsport.com, the contract that Moreira has signed with Honda to debut in MotoGP with LCR in 2026 is a 2+1-year works deal. He is also only confirmed to ride for LCR in 2026, so it is possible that the Brazilian could join Honda’s factory squad as early as 2027.

Additionally, Moreira’s rookie results with LCR during 2026 will not influence Honda’s option to extend his terms through 2028. The optional third year in the 21-year-old’s deal will only depend on his results during the 2027 MotoGP season – regardless of the team he rides for.