News Summary
- Honda is set to promote Diogo Moreira to its factory MotoGP team for 2027, partnering Fabio Quartararo.
- David Alonso is expected to join LCR Honda alongside Johann Zarco, with factory-specification equipment.
- Moreira’s rookie performances, first MotoGP sprint podium and impressive 850cc test at Spielberg reportedly influenced Honda’s decision.
Honda is set to promote Diogo Moreira to its factory MotoGP team for 2027, choosing the Brazilian over David Alonso to partner Fabio Quartararo, with an official announcement expected soon. The decision would complete the Japanese manufacturer’s rider line-up for the championship’s new technical era and reward Moreira’s rapid progress during his rookie season.
According to Sky Sport Italia journalists Sandro Donato Grosso and Rosario Triolo, Honda has settled the final allocation of its four riders, with Moreira moving from LCR to the factory HRC operation and Alonso taking his place at Lucio Cecchinello’s satellite team alongside Johann Zarco.
The Italian publication reported on Saturday, October 17, that the decision had been reached internally and that the announcement was approaching. Honda has not yet publicly confirmed the final team assignments, although Quartararo, Moreira, Alonso and Zarco already hold agreements with the manufacturer for 2027.
Alonso is expected to receive full factory technical support at LCR, following the arrangement that has allowed Moreira to work closely with Honda during his first season in the premier class.
Moreira wins Honda battle after breakthrough rookie season
Moreira’s promotion would represent a significant achievement after only one year in MotoGP.
The Brazilian joined LCR Honda for 2026 after graduating from Moto2 and quickly established himself as one of the manufacturer’s most promising riders. Although his first races involved the expected adaptation to more powerful machinery, Michelin tyres and MotoGP electronics, his performances improved as the season progressed.
His development was particularly noticeable under braking, an area in which Honda’s engineers and former test rider Cal Crutchlow identified unusual potential.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported in September, Crutchlow publicly backed Moreira over Alonso for the factory seat, arguing that the Brazilian had made substantial progress in controlling the motorcycle and maintaining consistent race pace.
Crutchlow also compared aspects of Moreira’s braking technique with those used by Marc Márquez, suggesting that the young rider possessed qualities that could become particularly valuable as Honda continued developing its motorcycle.
The strongest competitive evidence arrived at Motegi earlier this month, when Moreira secured his first MotoGP podium in the Japanese Grand Prix sprint.
The Brazilian finished second behind Marc Márquez after penalties for Jorge Martín and Enea Bastianini altered the final classification. Moreira had crossed the line fourth, but his recovery through the field demonstrated the progress he had made during the season.
GRANDE PRÊMIO’s Japanese sprint report detailed Moreira’s breakthrough result, achieved at Honda’s home circuit.
That performance gave HRC another reason to consider promoting him directly into its factory operation.
Spielberg test strengthens Moreira’s case for factory seat
Moreira’s performance on Honda’s future MotoGP motorcycle was another important factor in the reported decision.
The Brazilian participated in the September test at the Red Bull Ring, where manufacturers evaluated their 2027 machinery and the Pirelli tyres that will replace Michelin next season.
Honda selected Moreira alongside Johann Zarco and test rider Takaaki Nakagami, giving him an opportunity to work with the new 850cc prototype.
According to the information reported by Sky Sport Italia, Moreira recorded the fastest overall time during the test and impressed Honda with a particularly competitive run.
The performance reportedly strengthened his position in the internal selection process.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO explained when Honda selected Moreira for the Spielberg test, the session also provided an important opportunity for the Brazilian to apply his previous experience with Pirelli tyres in Moto2.
The 2027 regulations will reduce engine capacity from 1000cc to 850cc, restrict aerodynamics and eliminate ride-height devices. Pirelli will simultaneously become MotoGP’s exclusive tyre supplier.
Those changes mean that Honda’s choice of riders involves more than their performance on the current motorcycle. The manufacturer must also consider their ability to develop a substantially different technical package.
The collective Pirelli test involved 18 riders from all five manufacturers, with teams using a mixture of new 850cc prototypes and modified current machinery.
Although the test was held privately and complete official timing data was not released, the reported performance gave Moreira another advantage in Honda’s evaluation.
Honda decision reportedly settled during Japanese GP
The final stage of Honda’s decision-making process reportedly took place during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at Motegi.
Moreira had already indicated that discussions with HRC were approaching, telling reporters that an announcement about his 2027 future could arrive soon.
During the Japanese sprint podium celebrations, Marc Márquez jokingly encouraged the Brazilian to use his result as leverage in negotiations with Honda.
Moreira responded by revealing that he had a meeting scheduled with the manufacturer later that Saturday.
According to Sky Sport Italia, that meeting played an important role in completing the decision over the factory seat.
The Italian publication reported that Moreira’s development throughout 2026, combined with his performance during the Spielberg test, ultimately convinced Honda to select him ahead of Alonso.
The Colombian had previously been considered a strong candidate for the factory team because of his achievements in the junior categories, including the 2024 Moto3 world championship.
However, Alonso’s 2026 Moto2 campaign has been less convincing than expected, reducing the advantage he appeared to hold earlier in the selection process.
Honda’s reported decision does not mean Alonso has lost his place in MotoGP. The manufacturer had already secured his services for 2027, and he is expected to begin his premier-class career with LCR.
Alonso set for LCR with factory support as Quartararo leads Honda
The reported arrangement would give Honda two very different combinations for 2027.
At the factory team, Quartararo would partner Moreira, bringing together the 2021 MotoGP world champion and one of the championship’s most promising young riders.
Quartararo’s arrival from Yamaha represents one of the most significant transfers of the 2027 rider market. Honda has recruited the Frenchman to lead its technical recovery and help develop the motorcycle being prepared for the new regulations.
Moreira would provide continuity, having already spent a season racing Honda machinery and participating in the manufacturer’s development programme.
At LCR, Alonso would join Zarco, giving the Colombian an experienced teammate during his first season in MotoGP.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Alonso will receive full factory treatment, including access to Honda’s latest technical specification and development support.
That arrangement would allow Honda to evaluate both young riders using competitive machinery while maintaining a clear division between its factory and satellite operations.
The manufacturer confirmed its agreements with Quartararo and Alonso in July but deliberately left the final team assignments open.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO explained in its complete 2027 MotoGP grid analysis, the Honda allocation was the final unresolved question in a rider market that had already established all 22 competitors for next season.
If the reported decision is confirmed, Moreira will become the first Brazilian to race for Honda’s factory MotoGP team since Alex Barros in 2004.
Barros was one of Moreira’s earliest mentors, adding another connection between the Brazilian’s career and the Japanese manufacturer. Honda has not announced the date of its official confirmation.
MotoGP returns from October 23–25 for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, where Moreira will continue his rookie campaign with LCR while Honda prepares its 2027 programme. GRANDE PRÊMIO will follow the weekend and the remaining rider-market developments through its MotoGP coverage.
