Honda rider Moreira stormed onto the MotoGP podium for the first time: “That was the day!”

Saturday’s MotoGP sprint race at the Twin Ring Motegi produced a highly eventful finish, with race control also playing its part. Because championship leader Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini went off the track on the final lap – a decision decided by a matter of millimetres, incidentally – rookie Diogo Moreira moved up two places from fourth, in accordance with the regulations. The 22-year-old Brazilian was thus able to celebrate his first podium finish in second place alongside his practice partner Marc Márquez.

The delayed call to the podium prompted the LCR team to perform exuberant victory dances in a circle with Moreira. Joining them were team boss Lucio Cecchinello and the German former Grand Prix rider and HRC technician Klaus Nöhles. Moreira was bubbling with joy: “In the end, it was my day,” Moreira said, over the moon. “There was a lot going on at the start. I saw the crash in Turn 3 and then thought to myself: ‘Right, now I’m going to really push hard.’”

However, the rookie from São Paulo also knew that the soft tyres could cause problems over the twelve-lap distance. “I felt better lap by lap, but I didn’t want to overdo it and tried to look after the tyres as well.” Moreira was right to do so, as winner Marc Márquez completely shredded the centre of his soft rear tyre on the new Motegi tarmac, just as Martin did.

Honda-Mann des Tages: Erstes MotoGP-Podium für Diogo Moreira

Foto: Gold and Goose

Moto2 World Champion Moreira spotted the crucial mistakes made by the riders ahead of him, right at the exit of the final straight before the tunnel leading to the finish: “On the final lap, I saw that both Jorge and Enea had gone onto the grass. Then I thought to myself that I might just make it onto the podium.”

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The result also brought great joy to the Honda camp. After a tough opening day, with Taka Nakagami forced out due to injury and crashes involving Zarco, Marini – and Moreira – the team were able to celebrate their sporting achievements. Whilst Zarco, also riding for LCR, picked up points in seventh place, the factory riders Marini and Chantra came away empty-handed.