News Summary
- Honda has officially promoted Diogo Moreira to its factory MotoGP team for 2027, pairing the Brazilian with 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo.
- David Alonso will join Johann Zarco at LCR Honda, completing the manufacturer’s four-rider line-up for the new technical regulations.
- Moreira scored points in 14 of his first 17 MotoGP races and finished second in the Japanese GP sprint, convincing Honda to accelerate his promotion.
Honda has officially confirmed Diogo Moreira as Fabio Quartararo’s teammate in its factory MotoGP team for 2027, choosing the Brazilian over David Alonso after an impressive rookie campaign and completing its four-rider line-up for the championship’s new technical era.
The Japanese manufacturer announced the decision on Tuesday, October 20, ending months of speculation about which of its two young prospects would receive the factory seat. Moreira will move from LCR to Honda HRC Castrol on a multi-year agreement, while Alonso will make his MotoGP debut with the satellite team alongside Johann Zarco.
The decision represents a significant step in Moreira’s career, coming less than a year after the Brazilian won the 2025 Moto2 World Championship. His progress during his first MotoGP season, including a breakthrough sprint podium at Motegi, convinced Honda that he was ready to become a central part of its rebuilding programme.
Moreira welcomed the announcement and described joining the factory team as a childhood ambition.
“It is a fantastic feeling to arrive to the factory Honda HRC team in MotoGP,” he said in the manufacturer’s official statement.
Moreira earns Honda promotion after impressive rookie season
Moreira entered MotoGP in 2026 after winning the Moto2 title in his fourth season competing in the world championship paddock.
The Brazilian joined LCR Honda with a long-term HRC agreement, allowing the manufacturer to evaluate his adaptation before deciding where he would race in 2027.
His opening races were focused on learning the Honda RC213V, particularly its braking characteristics, electronics and tyre management.
The first major breakthrough came at the Catalan Grand Prix, where Moreira secured his first top-ten finish.
He subsequently became increasingly competitive against the manufacturer’s more experienced riders, frequently fighting for the position of leading Honda during race weekends.
Honda’s official figures show that Moreira scored points in 14 of his first 17 Grands Prix, demonstrating consistency as well as improving outright speed.
His most important result came at Motegi, where he finished second in the Japanese Grand Prix sprint, securing his first MotoGP podium at Honda’s home circuit.
The performance attracted considerable attention within HRC, particularly because it came during a season in which the manufacturer was still attempting to recover competitiveness against Ducati, Aprilia and KTM.
The Japanese Grand Prix also gave Honda an opportunity to assess Moreira under pressure, with the Brazilian maintaining his position against more experienced rivals.
The result strengthened his candidacy for the factory seat and helped settle the internal competition with Alonso.
Moreira promises to help Honda return to the top
Moreira acknowledged that the promotion represented a major achievement but emphasised that his objective was to contribute to Honda’s long-term recovery.
“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,” he said.
The Brazilian also credited LCR for supporting his adaptation during his first MotoGP season.
“Of course, I must also say thank you to everyone in LCR who have helped me in my adaptation to MotoGP,” Moreira added.
He explained that the work completed during 2026 had given him confidence about the manufacturer’s prospects under the new regulations.
“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.”
Moreira concluded by emphasising his determination to help Honda challenge for victories and championships again.
The manufacturer’s Motorcycle Racing Division general manager, Yuzuru Ishikawa, praised the Brazilian’s ability to adapt quickly to different machinery.
“Moreira has always been able to adapt to new bikes quickly,” Ishikawa said.
The Japanese executive highlighted Moreira’s experience in motocross, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP as evidence of his versatility.
Honda believes that quality will be especially important in 2027, when the championship introduces a completely new technical package.
David Alonso joins Zarco at LCR after losing factory seat battle
Moreira’s promotion also confirms the destination of David Alonso, who will make his MotoGP debut with LCR Honda in 2027.
The Colombian had already signed an agreement with HRC earlier in the season, but the manufacturer had not announced whether he would join the factory operation or the satellite team.
Honda has now confirmed that Alonso will replace Moreira at LCR, partnering experienced French rider Johann Zarco.
The decision completes the manufacturer’s four-rider line-up and gives Alonso an opportunity to adapt to MotoGP without immediately carrying the expectations associated with a factory seat.
Alonso won the 2024 Moto3 World Championship after a dominant campaign and moved to Moto2 in 2025.
During the 2026 season, he has established himself as one of the intermediate category’s leading riders, collecting a victory and several podium finishes.
Honda’s official announcement confirms that Alonso has finished inside the top nine in 12 of the first 17 races and currently occupies fifth place in the Moto2 standings.
The Colombian described LCR as an ideal environment for his first season in the premier class, citing the team’s experience and its history of developing young riders.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO previously reported when Honda’s decision emerged, Moreira’s rapid adaptation and his Motegi sprint podium had made him the leading candidate for the factory promotion.
That earlier report has now been confirmed by Honda’s official announcement.
Quartararo and Moreira lead Honda’s 2027 rebuild
The factory team’s new pairing combines an established MotoGP world champion with one of the championship’s most promising young riders.
Fabio Quartararo won the 2021 MotoGP title with Yamaha, becoming one of the leading riders of his generation before the Japanese manufacturer began struggling with technical development.
His decision to join Honda for 2027 represents one of the most significant moves in the rider market.
Moreira, meanwhile, brings youth and experience of Honda’s current motorcycle, having completed his rookie campaign with LCR.
The combination will give HRC two drivers with different backgrounds but a shared objective of restoring the manufacturer to the front of the championship.
Honda has struggled for consistent victories since Marc Márquez’s departure, undergoing several changes to its engineering structure and development programme.
The manufacturer has invested heavily in rebuilding its technical operation, with the new regulations offering an opportunity to change its competitive position.
The factory team will be supported by LCR, where Zarco provides extensive MotoGP experience and Alonso offers another long-term development prospect.
Honda’s complete 2027 MotoGP rider line-up
| Team | Rider | 2026 team |
|---|---|---|
| Honda HRC Castrol | D. MOREIRA | LCR Honda |
| Honda HRC Castrol | F. QUARTARARO | Yamaha Factory |
| Pro Honda LCR | J. ZARCO | LCR Honda |
| Pro Honda LCR | D. ALONSO | Moto2 |
All four riders were confirmed by Honda Racing Corporation on October 20, 2026.
Honda prepares new 850cc motorcycle for MotoGP 2027
The line-up has been assembled for one of the biggest technical changes in modern MotoGP history.
From 2027, engine capacity will decrease from 1000cc to 850cc, while aerodynamic devices will face additional restrictions and ride-height systems will be banned.
The championship will also switch from Michelin to Pirelli tyres, creating new challenges for manufacturers and riders.
Honda has already begun evaluating its next-generation prototype, with development focused on improving performance while adapting to the revised technical regulations.
Moreira’s promotion gives the manufacturer continuity between its existing MotoGP programme and the new era.
His experience of the RC213V and his feedback from the 2026 season will be valuable as Honda develops its new motorcycle.
Quartararo will bring a different technical perspective after spending his entire MotoGP career with Yamaha.
Alonso will begin his premier-class career on the same generation of machinery, allowing Honda to evaluate the progress of its younger riders under the new regulations.
The 2027 championship will feature several major rider changes, including Jorge Martín’s move to Yamaha, Pedro Acosta’s arrival at Ducati and Nicolò Bulega’s promotion from WorldSBK to VR46.
The complete rider market is detailed in GRANDE PRÊMIO’s 2027 MotoGP grid guide.
Moreira prepares for final LCR races before factory promotion
Moreira will complete the remaining rounds of 2026 with LCR before joining the factory team.
His next appearance is scheduled for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island on October 23–25.
The event will be the final MotoGP race at the circuit before the championship moves to Adelaide in 2027.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO examined in its Phillip Island historical preview, the farewell weekend will bring together several records and milestones.
Moreira will then race at Sepang before the final rounds of the season, using those events to continue developing his experience ahead of the move to HRC.
