Diogo Moreira will make his MotoGP debut in the 2026 season with the LCR team, Honda confirmed on Tuesday.
First reported by Motorsport last August, the news finalises next year’s grid for the premier class. Moreira will join Johann Zarco at LCR, replacing Somkiat Chantra, whose rookie MotoGP season has fallen well short of expectations. Chantra is moving to Honda’s World Superbike outfit next year.
Currently in his second Moto2 season with the Italtrans squad, Moreira sits second in the riders’ standings – just nine points behind leader Manuel Gonzalez. The gap closed dramatically after the latter was disqualified from the Indonesian GP over a technical breach regarding his bike’s electronic system. Moreira meanwhile took his third victory of the year, clawing back 25 points at once and reigniting the title race with four rounds remaining.
“Joining the MotoGP world championship with Honda LCR is a dream come true,” Moreira said. “I want to thank Honda and the team for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity. I’m excited to learn, to grow, and to fight for strong results at the top level of motorcycle racing.”
Diogo Moreira, Italtrans Racing Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
“Without a doubt, Diogo possesses all the qualities to become one of the greats in MotoGP,” team principal Lucio Cecchinello added. “He has undeniable talent, a deep passion for racing, and has proven his speed across all types of motorcycles and disciplines.”
Regardless of who ultimately takes the crown, Moreira will be the only Moto2 rider to move up to MotoGP in 2026.
The 21-year-old from Sao Paulo has a close relationship with Yamaha, whose Brazilian division provides him with sports bikes for training, which initially suggested that the tuning-fork brand might have an advantage when contract talks began. Pairing rookies Toprak Razgatlioglu and Moreira in Pramac’s new Yamaha satellite team seemed to perfectly fit the squad’s young-talent philosophy under Paolo Campinoti.
However, while Yamaha was unsure, Honda acted decisively, prompting Moreira to commit to the golden-wing brand. Motorsport understands HRC offered Moreira a three-year deal with full factory status, structured as a ‘2+1’ contract. The optional third year, extending through 2028, will depend on performance targets to be met during the 2027 campaign.
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