Paris (AFP) - The starting grid for next season’s MotoGP was finalised on Tuesday with the announcement that young Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira will join the Honda satellite team LCR.

He replaces Thai rider Somkiat Chantra, who has struggled in his first year at the elite level, and will team up with 35-year-old French veteran Johann Zarco.

Moreira, 21, is currently competing in the Moto2 championship, where he is second in the standings after finishing 13th in 2024.

Rookie of the year in both Moto3 and Moto2, he has won three races this season and is just nine points off the lead.

“Joining the MotoGP World Championship with Honda-LCR is a dream come true,” Moreira said in a statement.

“I’m excited to learn, to grow, and to fight for strong results at the top level of motorcycle racing.”

His MotoGP debut will also coincide with the long-awaited return of the Brazilian Grand Prix which is due to be the second race of the 2026 season in March.

Moreira’s signing closes off the grid with Turkey’s Toprak Razgatlioglu, currently competing in Superbike, also set to make his MotoGP debut with the Yamaha-Pramac team.

2026 MotoGP line-ups:

Factory teams

Ducati: Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), Marc Marquez (ESP)

Honda: Joan Mir (ESP), Luca Marini (ITA)

Yamaha: Fabio Quartararo (FRA), Alex Rins (ESP)

Aprilia: Jorge Martin (ESP), Marco Bezzecchi (ITA)

KTM: Brad Binder (RSA), Pedro Acosta (ESP)

Satellite teams

Ducati-Gresini: Alex Marquez (ESP), Fermin Aldeguer (ESP)

Ducati-VR46: Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Fabio di Giannantonio (ITA)

Yamaha-Pramac: Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR), Jack Miller (AUS)

Honda-LCR: Johann Zarco (FRA), Diogo Moreira (BRA)

KTM-GasGas-Tech3: Maverick Vinales (ESP), Enea Bastianini (ITA)

Aprilia-Trackhouse: Ai Ogura (JPN), Raul Fernandez (ESP)