Diogo Moreira on his maiden MotoGP podium: Today was the day

Pulse Sports Team 08:08 - 03 October 2026

Diogo Moreira claimed his maiden MotoGP podium after finishing second in the Motegi Sprint in Japan. The LCR Honda Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in fourth place, but post-race penalties for Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini promoted him two spots up the order.

Speaking after the race, Moreira explained that following the major Turn 3 crash on the opening lap—which involved Alex Marquez, Pedro Acosta, and Fabio Di Giannantonio—he decided to push harder than usual to see what he could achieve. The Brazilian rider added that he also focused on managing his rear tyre, which allowed him to maintain strong pace late in the race.

"Today was the day. I saw the crash at Turn 3 and told myself I would push today and see what happens. Towards the end, with every passing lap, I felt more and more comfortable on the bike and tried to save the rear tyre for the finish. On the last lap, I saw that Martin and Bastianini ran off track, so I knew I was on the podium. I'm happy, and we need to enjoy these moments," the rookie said.