Moto2 frontrunner Diogo Moreira has an important part to play in the MotoGP rider market, as he is believed to have two premier-class offers on the table for the future - with two teams waiting to decide their 2026 plans depending almost entirely on the choice he makes.
The 21-year-old Brazilian, in his second season in the middleweight class, has thrust himself into the spotlight in recent weeks with an impressive run of form in Moto2, racking up two wins and two second places since May's British Grand Prix.
Still not quite a polished article - as demonstrated at the Sachsenring, where he was penalised for rejoining dangerously and causing a high-speed collision with David Alonso - that nonetheless hasn't stopped interest from both Yamaha's satellite team Pramac Racing and Lucio Cecchinello's LCR Honda squad.
Pramac has already announced one half of its 2026 line-up with the signing of double World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, but has once again delayed announcing whether one of its current duo, Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, will join him.
It is understood that the Pramac offer - believed to be for an impressively long three seasons - and Moreira's existing links to Yamaha, through a personal sponsorship with its Brazilian division, means that the opportunity to join Razgatlioglu is his first pick, something he hinted at when asked about his options by The Race after his Moto2 win at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday.
"For a rookie it's better to have a long contract," said Moreira. "It's a difficult category, difficult to understand the bike, so I have to make a long contract."
Asked if 2026 was the right time to step up, Moreira said: "Really I don't know.
"I want to go to MotoGP. If I have the offer and I have the opportunity to go, in a good contract, for sure I will go."
The other option on the table in front of Moreira right now is from Honda, to replace the underperforming (and currently injury-sidelined) Somkiat Chantra in the satellite LCR team alongside 2025 race winner Johann Zarco.
While that offer is not believed to be as long as the Yamaha one it would be on arguably a better bike right now than the struggling M1, leaving Moreira with a decision to make in the coming weeks.
But that situation is perhaps complicated even more by both the imminent arrival of Yamaha's new V4-engined machine, and the sweeping changes to MotoGP's rules taking place for 2027.
"The offers are there, and maybe this week I’ll sit with my manager and see them," Moreira added. "But I need to try and focus on Moto2.
"I think after Hungary more or less we'll have some ideas. Let's see. But at the end I'll try to be focused on Hungary, make the same as this weekend, and let’s see."
That decision cannot come soon enough for a number of riders not just in the MotoGP paddock, though, thanks to the likely knock-on impact that his arrival in the premier class will have.
Should he go with Yamaha, it means that both Miller and Oliveira are likely out of MotoGP, with the World Superbike paddock a potential home for both of them.
Pramac's decision to make the call not during the summer break as originally planned is one that had already left Miller (believed to be the prime candidate to stay if there is a space) with a bad taste in his mouth going into last weekend's Austrian GP.
"First it was before summer break, then it was after summer break," he said last Thursday. "Getting delayed. Why are we delaying it? I don't know, but hopefully something comes out soon.
"Obviously, other opportunities are starting to close up."
Miller spoke last year with former employer Ducati about joining its factory World Superbike squad alongside Niccolo Bulega, and, with the departure of Alvaro Bautista already confirmed, that offer could well be extended his way again - something reinforced by Ducati's as of yet lack of announcements regarding its second seat.
If Moreira goes with the LCR option, though, Miller will most likely retain his seat - an option favoured by Yamaha factory racer and former world champion Fabio Quartararo, who is keen to see at least some experience remain at Pramac to help him develop the new V4 machine in 2026.
It is believed that Yamaha is interested in retaining the services of Oliveira, but in the World Superbike series, potentially as a replacement for six-time champion Jonathan Rea.
Even if Moreira does elect to go with Yamaha, it is unlikely to save Chantra's MotoGP hopes.
LCR is believed to be eyeing up Moto2 championship leader Manu Gonzalez to replace Chantra, having been impressed by Gonzalez's one-day test earlier this season on the Trackhouse Aprilia.
