Honda has announced a major step in its racing efforts by securing the highly anticipated Honda LCR MotoGP sponsorship deal for the 2026 season. This new agreement comes after Honda’s previous long-term partnership with Idemitsu ended, marking a fresh chapter for Lucio Cecchinello’s team as they prepare for significant changes on the grid.
LCR Honda to Field Two Distinct Racing Bikes With Star Riders
Looking ahead to the 2026 championship, LCR Honda will introduce two powerful entries in MotoGP. Alongside the Castrol-backed motorcycle to be ridden by seasoned competitor Johann Zarco, a striking addition will arrive: the Pro Honda LCR machine. This new bike will feature bold Pro Honda branding and will be raced by Diogo Moreira, Moto2 champion and highly regarded rookie. Moreira’s move to MotoGP brings further excitement as fans and teams alike anticipate how the reigning Moto2 champion will perform against established competition.
Pro Honda Brand Takes Center Stage in MotoGP
Pro Honda, recognized globally as Honda’s flagship brand for oils and lubricants, is designed to optimize motorcycle performance. Leveraging advanced technology, developed through the rigorous environment of motorsports, the brand ensures enhanced safety and dependability for all types of riders. This technical expertise, tested at the highest levels, will now further power LCR Honda’s MotoGP campaign.
Growing Presence of Pro Honda Seen Through Recent Racing Milestones
Pro Honda’s prominence in MotoGP began to rise with its appearance at the 2024 Barcelona GP finale where Stefan Bradl entered as a wildcard, representing the Honda HRC Test Team and showcasing the capabilities of the RC213V. The following season, top test riders such as Aleix Espargaró and Takaaki Nakagami wore the Pro Honda livery in selected races. Their participation helped strengthen Pro Honda’s visibility and credibility within elite motorcycle racing circuits, bolstering anticipation for its full-time sponsorship involvement in the upcoming season.
Leadership Voices Confidence in New Chapter
The announcement of the Honda LCR MotoGP sponsorship deal brought enthusiastic responses from top executives. Kotaru Shimizu, overseeing HRC’s customer motorsport division, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating,
“We are thrilled to have secured a sponsorship agreement with Honda LCR under the Pro Honda banner. Building on our strong relationship with Lucio Cecchinello and HRC, we are fully committed to supporting Diogo Moreira’s challenge starting in the 2026 season. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity, and as Honda’s official oils and lubricants brand, Pro Honda will continue to deliver proven technology and reliability designed to maximize the performance of the RC213V while conveying Pro Honda’s values to HRC users worldwide.”
– Kotaru Shimizu, Executive Director, HRC Motorsport Division.
Team principal Lucio Cecchinello echoed this sense of anticipation, expressing,
“Establishing a new collaboration with Pro Honda, Honda’s official brand for oils and lubricants, marks a significant milestone for our project. By sharing common values, we commit ourselves to this competitive program, striving for the perfect balance between competitive performance and reliability.”
– Lucio Cecchinello, Team Principal, LCR Honda.
Anticipation Builds for an Electrifying MotoGP Season
The launch of this partnership is set to generate new rivalries and memorable moments as Diogo Moreira joins LCR and takes on the world stage in the Pro Honda-backed machine, while established figures like Johann Zarco continue to highlight the team’s depth. With Pro Honda’s expanding influence and technology, as well as the energy of promising new talent, MotoGP fans can look forward to a thrilling 2026 season. The racing community is abuzz with speculation about how this transformative deal will impact the battle for supremacy on the track and the global branding of the sport.
