Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has announced that Diogo Moreira will join the Honda HRC Castrol factory team for the 2027 FIM MotoGP World Championship under a multi‑year agreement, partnering Fabio Quartararo as the squad enters a new era.
The 22‑year‑old Brazilian moves up from LCR Honda, where he completed his rookie MotoGP season after signing an HRC contract following an impressive campaign in Moto2. Moreira earned five wins, 13 podiums and nine pole positions across the lightweight and middleweight categories, making a meteoric rise from his World Championship debut in 2022 to MotoGP in 2026.
Moreira crowned himself Moto2 World Champion in 2025, securing the title in just his fourth season on the world stage. A breakthrough victory at Assen sparked a charge through the standings that culminated in the intermediate‑class title. His raw speed, race craft and composure under pressure convinced HRC he was ready for the premier class and a future star.
His debut MotoGP year validated that assessment. Moreira entered the season with a clear plan, gradually building confidence and understanding of the Honda RC213V until a breakout weekend at the Catalan Grand Prix delivered his first top‑ten finish. Since then he has consistently fought for top Honda honours in most races. A Sprint podium at HRC’s home race in Motegi underscored his readiness for the factory team.
The #11 rider will line up alongside Fabio Quartararo in the Honda HRC Castrol team on a multi‑year contract as MotoGP transitions to new technical regulations. Combining proven success with youthful promise, the 2027 Honda HRC Castrol lineup aims to return Honda to the top of the MotoGP World Championship standings.
Moreira will follow in the footsteps of fellow Brazilian Alex Barros, who earned four podiums for the factory Honda squad in the premier class during the 2004 MotoGP season.
Diogo Moreira: “It is a fantastic feeling to arrive to the factory Honda HRC team in MotoGP, it is something that every rider dreams of when they are young. I want to say thank you to everyone in Honda HRC for putting their faith in me and making the next step in this project. So far in 2026 we have done a great job to adapt to the bike and the sensations for the future are already very positive from what we have seen. Of course, I must also say thank you to everyone in LCR who have helped me in my adaptation to MotoGP – the whole team has been crucial in this development. I am looking forward to next year and to helping Honda HRC return to where they must be.”
Yuzuru Ishikawa – General Manager, Motorcycle Racing Division, Honda Racing Corporation: “Moreira has always been able to adapt to new bikes quickly, everything from motocross to Moto3, Moto2 and now MotoGP. This is the sign of a talented rider and as HRC, we aim to keep supporting Diogo in the next step of his career and in the next step of our plan to return to fighting for the World Championship. We have a highly competitive rider line‑up next season across Honda HRC Castrol and the LCR Team and I am sure that all of these riders will push each other not only to raise their level on track, but also to help HRC’s engineers create the best bike possible in this new era of racing.”
