HONDA CONFIRMS DIOGO MOREIRA AS FABIO QUARTARARO’S 2027 TEAMMATE

Honda’s plan for Fabio Quartararo’s 2027 teammate has moved into its final phase, with Diogo Moreira now widely expected to be the man promoted to the factory squad. Quartararo’s place at Honda is already secured: the Frenchman was signed from Yamaha on a two-year agreement that was agreed ahead of the 2026 season. With Joan Mir and Luca Marini set to leave the team at the end of the year, Honda has a clear opening alongside Quartararo.

For much of the build-up, the focus had been on Moto2 standout David Alonso. The Colombian has signed a factory contract with Honda, and there was early belief he would step straight into the factory environment. However, Honda’s thinking has shifted, and the decision has effectively narrowed to whether Alonso is ready for the jump or whether Honda should instead look to a rider already progressing through its system.

That is where Moreira comes in. The Brazilian is currently in his rookie MotoGP season with LCR in 2026, and Honda’s internal concerns about Alonso’s “inconsistent” Moto2 results have reportedly pushed the manufacturer to reconsider. Honda are also said to be mindful of development risk: keeping Moreira in a satellite role could slow his progress, and LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello has been pushing for Honda to promote him.

Moreira’s recent form has strengthened the case. After the Aragon GP, he delivered a P7 in the Sprint and a P9 on Sunday, and journalist Simon Patterson suggested the factory move is essentially settled. Speaking on The Race MotoGP podcast, Patterson said Honda “are not people that rush to make announcements,” adding that he had heard over the weekend that the situation was “pretty much nailed it on that he’s going there,” with Alonso instead set to go to LCR with Santi Hernandez.

The broader market context also played a role. Ducati and Aprilia were both keen on Alonso, but they were unable to meet his salary demands, which contributed to his decision to sign with Honda.

As for the riders’ outlook, Alonso is described as not being concerned about which team he rides for in 2027, because he has the factory deal he wanted. The expectation is that he will receive full support from Honda, with LCR positioned as a strong environment for his rookie season—while Moreira is set to partner Quartararo in the factory team.