Honda has confirmed that Pro Honda, the company’s own oil and chemical brand, will serve as the MotoGP title sponsor for LCR and rider Diogo Moreira in the 2026 season. This new sponsorship strengthens Honda’s presence in top-level motorcycle racing, highlighting a major shift in LCR’s partnerships as Moreira, the current Moto2 world champion, takes on his rookie season in the premier class.
Pro Honda Steps Into the Spotlight for 2026
Pro Honda will be the headline sponsor for the LCR entry piloted by Diogo Moreira beginning in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship. Moreira will compete under the Pro Honda LCR moniker, while his teammate Johann Zarco maintains his association with Castrol as his own sponsor. The switch marks a pivotal change for LCR, following the conclusion of their previous sponsorship with IDEMITSU, which started in 2018 with Takaaki Nakagami and ended after Somkiat Chantra’s exit at the end of last year.
Tracing Pro Honda’s Growing Involvement in MotoGP
Although Moreira’s 2026 race livery has not yet been unveiled, Pro Honda is not new to the MotoGP stage. The brand first appeared during Stefan Bradl’s wild-card entry at the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix and has since been seen on bikes during Honda Racing Corporation test outings with Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami. This progression reflects Honda’s strategic effort to elevate its brand visibility within top-level motorsport.
Leadership Perspectives on the New Partnership
“We are truly delighted to have entered into a sponsorship agreement with Honda LCR under the Pro Honda brand,”
said Kotaro Shimizu, Executive Officer at Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
“Built on a strong relationship of trust with CEO Lucio Cecchinello and HRC, we will fully support the challenge undertaken by Diogo Moreira and Pro Honda LCR from the 2026 season onward, doing our utmost to contribute to both the team and the rider.”
– Kotaro Shimizu, Executive Officer at Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
LCR team principal Lucio Cecchinello welcomed the partnership and explained its importance for the team’s future:
“Establishing a new partnership with Pro Honda, the official Honda brand for genuine oil and chemical products, represents a profoundly significant milestone for part of our project.”
Lucio Cecchinello added,
“By sharing common values, we are committed with this racing program to pursuing the perfect balance between competitive performance and reliability.”
What’s Next for LCR and Moreira?
The team and its newest champion recruit, Diogo Moreira, are preparing for their next on-track appearance at the Sepang Shakedown test scheduled from January 29 to 31. This marks an important step in Moreira’s transition from Moto2 and sets the stage for Pro Honda LCR’s debut in 2026. With the unveiling of Moreira’s future livery still to come, anticipation is building around Honda’s expanded MotoGP ambitions and its evolving partnerships with key names like Lucio Cecchinello, Johann Zarco, and Aleix Espargaro.
This title sponsorship agreement is expected to sharpen Honda’s competitive edge in the championship, highlight the Pro Honda brand on the world stage, and signal a new era for LCR as they chart their course for the future of MotoGP.
