There are moments in motorcycling that feel like waking up in another universe, every input from your hands, feet, and body demands a new kind of respect. For Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira, that moment came when he first climbed aboard a MotoGP bike: Honda’s fearsome RC213V during the post-season Valencia test.
If you're newer to the sport, MotoGP is the top tier of motorcycle road racing, a world apart from street bikes or amateur track machines. These are purpose-built race prototypes, with carbon brakes, massive horsepower, and wings that push the limits of grip and downforce. What happens when you go from a “regular” race bike (like those in Moto2) to this kind of machine is not just a step up, it's a leap.
Fresh from winning the 2025 Moto2 World Championship, Moreira headed to Valencia for a one-day test with LCR Honda, riding the RC213V that he’ll campaign in 2026. Unlike some rookies who get private track days to prepare, Moreira’s debut was very much first real contact. (Crash.net)
He ended the day having completed 57 laps, with a best lap time of 1:31.197 — putting him 1.824 seconds off the top time. (grandepremio.com) For a first run on a MotoGP machine, that kind of pace is impressive.
But the thing that hit him hardest? The brakes. Not just because they’re powerful, but because they’re made of carbon, which behaves very differently from the braking systems on Moto2 or street bikes.
Moreira admitted that learning when and how to throw the bike into its braking zones was disorienting. He said the brakes need to warm up, and at first, he struggled to “understand when to stop the bike.” (lat.motorsport.com)
That’s no small detail: carbon brakes bite differently, work best at temperature, and demand a delicate balance between aggression and control. Veteran riders know how much mental discipline that requires; for a rookie, it's a steep curve.
He didn’t just wrestle with the brakes, Moreira also admitted that opening the throttle on a straight felt frightening at first. “I was a bit scared … but in the end I enjoyed a lot,” he said, reflecting on how his comfort grew by his final session. (M Sports)
He knows he still has work to do. Moreira admitted that they didn’t run that many laps during the test, and that he needs to train hard this winter to be physically ready for the demands of MotoGP. (Crash.net)
Racing at this level is a full-body, full-mind challenge — strength, endurance, and precision are all critical. And for a young rider making the jump, the winter training isn’t optional; it’s essential.
Takeaways for riders…
For new or casual riders: Moreira’s first test is a window into how different things are in MotoGP — it’s not just more speed, it's more everything. The brakes, the corner speeds, the mental game — it's a reminder that even at the highest levels, learning never stops.
For seasoned riders: Watching a young champion wrestle with what we sometimes take for granted (like managing carbon brakes or dialing in throttle feel) is a humbling reminder: respect the bike, respect the learning process, and never stop chasing improvement.
