Diogo Moreira produced a determined comeback in the Sprint race at the French Grand Prix, finishing ninth to secure his first points in a MotoGP Sprint.
The LCR Honda rider was forced to start from 18th after a difficult qualifying session, but quickly made progress through the field with an aggressive start and solid race pace.
“It’s nice to have scored points for the first time; step by step, we’re getting there,” Moreira said after the race.
Despite the setback on Saturday morning, he showed encouraging speed during the Sprint itself, battling through the pack and consistently gaining positions.
“During the Sprint, we had good speed and pace. What we’re missing is putting everything together in practice and qualifying,” he explained.
Moreira ultimately crossed the line in ninth place, completing a strong recovery and marking an important milestone in his rookie MotoGP season.
He highlighted the start as a key factor in his result, noting that early track position made the difference in a tightly contested race.
“Today’s key was the start; we had good pace, and that is important. If it rains tomorrow, it will be the same for everybody. We’re on the right path; we’re rookies, and we need to push every day and keep learning,” he added.
The result strengthens Moreira’s confidence as he continues adapting to MotoGP machinery, with focus now shifting to improving one-lap pace in qualifying to match his growing race-day competitiveness.
