Diogo Moreira targets factory MotoGP spot in potential Moto2 graduation

After clinching his second Moto2 victory of the season in the Austrian Grand Prix, Diogo Moreira is openly aiming to step up to MotoGP next year with the goal of joining a manufacturer squad.

In his second season in Moto2, Moreira started off slower than expected for a rider who, on paper, had all the tools to fight for the intermediate-class title. But after overcoming a shaky start, the Italtrans rider has found his rhythm, and the momentum is so strong that it now seems inevitable he will move up to MotoGP in 2026 - potentially as Moto2 world champion, after the Sao Paulo-born rider took his second victory of the campaign.

Combined with a retirement from championship leader Manu Gonzalez due to mechanical issues, and a 10th place for Aron Canet, Moreira is now 35 points off the top with nine rounds remaining.

The market had been shaken earlier this year by Jorge Martin’s brief flirtation with Honda, which ultimately fell through after his expected move away from Aprilia collapsed. As it stands, only Yamaha and Honda still have seats available for 2026 - and Moreira has offers from both factories.

The 21-year-old is in high demand for several reasons. The talented Brazilian fits perfectly with MotoGP’s expansion plans, especially as the championship will return to Brazil next year, with the attraction of having a home rider for the race appealing to all stakeholders.

“If I move up to MotoGP, it’s because I’ve earned it; the flag doesn’t matter. It’s because I’m fast, not because of where I’m from,” Moreira stressed after his dominant win in Austria. “In the coming days I’ll sit down with my agent [Diego Silvente] and my team to look at the options.”

Diogo Moreira, Italtrans Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Among the possible scenarios, the most logical one would see him land at Pramac, Yamaha’s satellite squad, where he would line up alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu, another MotoGP rookie.

Despite Alex Rins’ struggles alongside Fabio Quartararo in the factory Yamaha team, the Japanese manufacturer is unlikely to break his contract, which runs until the end of 2026. Given Yamaha’s public support for Rins, Pramac appears to be Moreira’s most realistic destination if he chooses the Iwata brand.

A similar situation awaits at Honda, where Joan Mir still has one year left on his deal and Luca Marini is set to extend his contract officially. With Johann Zarco established at LCR - his renewal all but confirmed - the weakest link appears to be his team-mate, Somkiat Chantra, who has been sidelined and looks close to an exit from MotoGP.

HRC has offered Moreira that seat, though the move is complicated by Idemitsu’s influence, as the sponsor would prefer to place another Asian rider.

“I’d prefer to arrive in MotoGP with a factory team, because of the parts and the support you get. But the most important thing is to sign a long-term contract, for several years, so I can race without pressure. For now, my job is to keep pushing on track,” Moreira concluded.