October 20, 2026: Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has confirmed that Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira will join the Honda HRC Castrol factory team for the 2027 MotoGP World Championship on a multi-year contract. The 22-year-old will partner Fabio Quartararo as Honda prepares for a new era under the championship’s revised technical regulations.

Moreira’s promotion from Pro Honda LCR follows an impressive rise through the Grand Prix ranks and a promising rookie season in MotoGP in 2026. The Brazilian, who won the Moto2 World Championship in 2025, has emerged as one of the sport’s most exciting young talents and will now take on a key role in Honda’s ambition to return to the front of the premier class.

Diogo Moreira Earns Honda Factory MotoGP Promotion

Moreira joined the MotoGP grid in 2026 after signing an HRC contract following his title-winning Moto2 campaign. Since making his World Championship debut in 2022, he has recorded five victories, 13 podium finishes and nine pole positions across the lightweight and intermediate categories.

His breakthrough came in 2025, when he secured the Moto2 world title in just his fourth season competing on the international stage. A maiden intermediate-class victory at Assen helped launch his championship challenge, with Moreira demonstrating the speed, racecraft and composure required to fight for the title.

His first season in MotoGP has further strengthened Honda’s confidence in his potential. Moreira gradually adapted to the Honda RC213V, securing his first top-10 Grand Prix finish at the Catalan GP before regularly challenging for top honours among Honda’s riders.

A maiden MotoGP Sprint podium at Motegi, Honda’s home round in Japan, proved another significant milestone in his development and helped pave the way for his factory-team promotion.

Moreira to Partner Fabio Quartararo in 2027

The 2027 Honda HRC Castrol line-up will combine Moreira’s youthful potential with Quartararo’s experience and established credentials as a premier-class world champion.

The timing of the move is particularly significant, with MotoGP set to introduce a new technical regulations package in 2027. The changes will provide manufacturers and riders with a fresh challenge as teams work to develop competitive machinery for the next phase of the championship.

Honda is counting on its new rider combination to help accelerate the development of its MotoGP machine while challenging for race victories and the world championship.

Moreira will also become the latest Brazilian rider to represent Honda’s factory team in the premier class. Alex Barros previously raced for the squad in 2004, securing four podium finishes aboard the Honda RC211V.

Diogo Moreira Excited About Honda Factory Opportunity

Moreira described his promotion to the Honda HRC Castrol team as a major milestone in his career, thanking the manufacturer for its confidence and acknowledging the contribution of LCR Honda to his adaptation to MotoGP.

The Brazilian said his first season with the RC213V had helped him understand the bike and build confidence, adding that he was encouraged by the progress made during 2026.

He also expressed his determination to help Honda return to the front of the MotoGP World Championship, describing the factory opportunity as a dream for any young rider.

HRC Confident in Moreira’s Potential

Yuzuru Ishikawa, General Manager of the Motorcycle Racing Division at Honda Racing Corporation, highlighted Moreira’s ability to adapt quickly to different motorcycles and racing categories.

Ishikawa said HRC would continue supporting the Brazilian as he takes the next step in his career, while emphasising the importance of developing a competitive rider line-up across both the Honda HRC Castrol factory team and LCR Honda.

He added that competition among Honda’s riders would help raise their performance levels and provide valuable feedback to engineers as they work to develop the best possible motorcycle under the new regulations.

Honda Targets MotoGP Comeback in 2027

Moreira’s promotion represents a significant step in Honda’s preparations for the 2027 MotoGP season. With Quartararo alongside him, the manufacturer will look to combine proven championship-winning ability with the potential of one of the sport’s most promising young riders.