Diogo Moreira to join MotoGP in 2026

The final seat on the MotoGP grid for 2026 has been filled, with Diogo Moreira to join Idemitsu Honda LCR next season. The 21-year-old from Sao Paulo, Brazil, will step up from the Moto2 World Championship to replace Somkiat Chantra, who’s exiting grand prix racing to join the factory Honda HRC team in the Superbike World Championship.

While Moreira will ride the Idemitsu Honda LCR RC213V, his contract is with HRC, not LCR, so the multi-year deal may see him moved after next year, possibly to the factory team if he impresses in his debut season.

"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."

Moreira will be one of only two new riders on the grid next year, with Toprak Razgatlioglu the other debutant, coming to the premier class from the Superbike World Championship.

Moreira’s racing career started in his native Brazil, before he moved to Spain to pursue road racing. Joining the CEV Moto4 Championship when he was 13, Moreira progressed through the FIM European Talent Cup, CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup before making his Moto3 debut in 2022.

In two seasons with MT Helmets – MSI in Moto3, Moreira achieved one race win and two further podiums, finishing the championship in eighth place each year.

Advancing to Moto2 with Italtrans Racing Team in 2024, Moreira achieved a podium finish in the final race of that season, finishing 13th in the championship and named Rookie of the Year. Remaining in Moto2 with Italtrans this year, Moreira has shown marked improvement, achieving his first Moto2 podium at the British GP, then his first race win at the Dutch TT, followed by further victories at the Austrian and Indonesian GPs. At time of writing, Moreira was leading the Moto2 World Championship.

“We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Diogo Moreira to our team,” said Honda LCR Team Principal, Lucio Cecchinello. “Without a doubt, Diogo possesses all the qualities to become one of the greats in MotoGP. He has undeniable talent, a deep passion for racing, and has proven his speed across all types of motorcycles and disciplines.”