Marc Marquez’s father reportedly believes Diogo Moreira could be a faster rider than his son when on a dirt bike, a claim that has sparked plenty of attention as Moreira ascends to MotoGP with LCR Honda on a three-year deal.
Brazilian youngster Diogo Moreira has long turned heads since entering the grand-prix paddock. After clinching the Moto2 world title in 2025, he is set to jump straight to MotoGP next year with LCR Honda, a move that has drawn praise from high-profile corners of the sport, including the Marquez camp.
In an interview with Italy’s GPOne, LCR team boss Lucio Cecchinello shared an amusing anecdote about Moreira’s early start in riding. He noted that Moreira began riding motorcycles at the age of three, a habit encouraged by his father. Cecchinello relayed a remark from Marc Marquez’s father, Julia, who joked that Moreira “goes faster than my son on a dirt bike.”
Cecchinello highlighted Moreira’s progression across disciplines: a standout appearance in the Supermotard World Championship where he dominated the field, a strong showing at the VR46 Ranch flat-track events, a Moto3 victory, and finally clinching the Moto2 world title. All of these achievements contribute to a profile that signals potential success in MotoGP, though he will still need time to learn the premier class.
Moreira isn’t alone in the rookie class for 2025; he joins Toprak Razgatlioglu, a three-time World Superbike champion, as new entrants in MotoGP. At the Valencia post-season test, Moreira was just over half a second slower than Razgatlioglu, who had already logged laps on the Yamaha in a private session a week earlier.
This upcoming season also marks Brazil’s return to the MotoGP calendar after a two-decade absence, with the series set to visit the Ayrton Senna circuit in the Goiania region—Brazil’s first MotoGP event since the 2004 Rio Grand Prix.
Note: The report includes commentary from Crash.net’s coverage and references to broader MotoGP coverage and personnel.
