Moreira over Alonso: Why Honda gives the Brazilian the factory seat

• Multi-year deal: Moreira moves from LCR to Honda HRC Castrol
• 74 points and a sprint podium at Motegi in his rookie season
• David Alonso replaces Moreira at LCR as Honda swaps both factory riders

For months it remained unclear which of Honda’s two young riders would get the vacant factory seat for 2027. On 20 October, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) answered the question. 22-year-old Diogo Moreira steps up to the factory team after just one season with LCR and has signed a multi-year contract. That also settles where David Alonso lands: the Colombian takes over Moreira’s current seat at LCR Honda. With this decision, the entire MotoGP grid for the 2027 season is now complete.

Why does Diogo Moreira get the factory seat at Honda?

Diogo Moreira convinced Honda with his steady progress during his rookie season. The deciding factors were above all his sprint podium at Motegi and his performance at the test with the new 850cc bike.

The Brazilian from Sao Paulo arrived in MotoGP as the reigning Moto2 world champion. He won that title in 2025 in only his fourth world championship season. His first intermediate-class win at Assen proved to be the turning point back then, after which he worked his way to the top of the standings. Across Moto3 and Moto2 he has racked up five wins, 13 podiums and nine pole positions.

In MotoGP, Moreira took a measured approach. Early on, learning was the priority: he had to get used to the braking behaviour, the electronics and tyre management on the Honda RC213V. His first top-10 finish came at the Catalan Grand Prix. From then on he regularly fought for the title of best Honda rider. He scored points in 14 of the first 17 Grands Prix, with a sixth place in Hungary as his best main race result.

His highlight came, of all places, at Honda’s home race. Moreira finished second in the Motegi sprint, claiming his first MotoGP podium. So far it is the only podium for a Honda rider this season. With 74 points he currently sits 15th in the championship, level on points with Fabio Quartararo, who is 14th on the Yamaha. Among the Honda riders, only Luca Marini is better placed, having collected 34 points more.

Then there is the outlook for the future. At the Pirelli test at the Red Bull Ring in September, Moreira was unofficially the fastest rider on the new 850cc Honda. He is also said to have shown strong pace over a longer run. At HRC, General Manager Yuzuru Ishikawa highlighted the Brazilian’s adaptability in particular: “Moreira has always been able to adapt to new bikes quickly, everything from motocross to Moto3, Moto2 and now MotoGP.” For Ishikawa, that is a clear sign of talent. HRC wants to keep supporting Moreira in the next step of his career and fight for the world title with him again.

How was the decision between Moreira and Alonso made?

Honda already had both riders under contract but left the team question open until 20 October. Only then were Moreira for the factory team and Alonso for LCR officially confirmed within a few minutes of each other.

On 21 July, Honda had announced Alonso’s signing on a multi-year deal without naming a team. At the same time, Quartararo was presented as a factory rider for 2027 and 2028. Moreira already held a contract with HRC, which he had signed after his Moto2 title. That left Honda with four riders for four seats, but only one vacant seat in the factory team.

The actual decision is said to have been made at the race weekend in Japan, where a meeting between Moreira and Honda’s management was reportedly scheduled. On 20 October things moved quickly: first LCR bid farewell to its rookie, shortly afterwards HRC confirmed the move to the factory team, and a few minutes later LCR presented Alonso as his successor.

The decision apparently did not go through without resistance. The Wasserman Group, the agency representing Alonso, is said to have pushed repeatedly for its rider to go straight into the factory team. Several influential figures in Honda’s management reportedly viewed this critically. Their concern: a factory seat could put Alonso under too much pressure in his first MotoGP season.

What changes for Honda’s factory team in 2027?

Honda is replacing both factory riders at once for 2027. Joan Mir moves to Gresini Ducati, Luca Marini to Tech3 KTM, while Fabio Quartararo and Diogo Moreira join the team.

That rarely happens in a manufacturer’s factory team. Honda is betting on a mix of experience and speed. Quartararo became world champion with Yamaha in 2021 and has signed a two-year contract. Moreira brings a season of experience on the Honda and already knows the environment.

There are changes in the garage as well. Moreira is set to work initially with crew chief Andres Madrid, who joins HRC from KTM. Santi Hernandez, previously in charge of Joan Mir’s side of the garage, is expected to look after Alonso’s adaptation to MotoGP.

The reshuffle coincides with a major rule change. 2027 marks the start of a new era in MotoGP: engine capacity drops from 1000 to 850cc, Pirelli becomes the tyre supplier and aerodynamics are scaled back. Honda sees this as a chance to close the gap to Ducati and Aprilia. The whole grid is changing significantly. Twelve riders are switching teams and only five are staying where they are. On top of that come four rookies from Moto2 and Superbike world champion Nicolo Bulega.

Ishikawa stresses that Honda has a competitive line-up in both teams. He expects the riders to push each other and thereby also help HRC’s engineers develop the new bike further.

Which Brazilian rode for Honda’s factory team before Moreira?

Before Moreira, the last Brazilian to race for Honda’s factory team in the premier class was Alex Barros. In 2004, Barros scored four podiums on the Honda RC211V and finished fourth in the championship.

The connection goes beyond nationality. Barros is regarded as one of young Moreira’s earliest supporters. More than 20 years later, a Brazilian returns to Honda’s factory garage for the first time.

Moreira himself speaks of a childhood dream: “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.” He thanked HRC for its trust and the LCR team for making his entry into MotoGP easier. His impressions for the future are already very positive, he said. He states his goal clearly: “I am looking forward to next year and to helping Honda HRC return to where they must be.”

How is LCR saying goodbye to Diogo Moreira?

Lucio Cecchinello’s team thanked its rookie even before the end of the season. Before Moreira moves to the factory team, he still has five Grands Prix to contest in LCR colours.

Cecchinello praised not only the Brazilian’s speed but also his willingness to learn: “Diogo is an incredibly talented and fast rider, and it has been a pleasure to see him take on the challenge of MotoGP.” The team also mentioned Moreira’s sense of humour and his good mood in the garage. LCR describes the season together as a special journey, on and off the track.

What’s next for David Alonso at LCR?

David Alonso will start his MotoGP career with Pro Honda LCR in 2027, alongside Johann Zarco. His first outing on the Honda is planned for the Valencia test in December.

The 20-year-old has been regarded as a major young talent for years. In four world championship seasons he has collected 32 podiums, including 20 wins. In 2024 he became Moto3 world champion. His second Moto2 season, however, has not gone as hoped. Instead of fighting for the title, Alonso sits fifth with 166 points ahead of the final five races. This year he has won once, at Assen, and stood on the podium four times in total.

Alonso himself sees LCR as the right place to start: “I believe it’s the perfect place to start my MotoGP adaptation and learning process.” The team is very professional and has a lot of experience, he said. He describes the move as “A dream come true, and this is only the beginning”.

On the technical side, Alonso should not be at a disadvantage at LCR. Like Moreira this year, he is set to receive a bike with full factory support. Cecchinello says Alonso has already shown a great deal of talent, speed and determination, and that the team wants to build a successful future together with him. His step up is also a milestone for Colombia: Alonso will be only the second Colombian in MotoGP after Yonny Hernandez.

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