Diogo Moreira did not settle the 2026 MotoGP Rookie of the Year contest in Qatar. The LCR rider had a mathematical chance to finish the battle at Lusail, but a scoreless weekend left the title to be decided at the next round in Portimao.

The points calculation

Moreira’s only rival is Toprak Razgatlioglu, whose season ended early after a shoulder injury and the surgery that followed. That absence does not make the award automatic, however. The calculation includes every point still available in the championship, whether or not a rider is present at a particular Grand Prix.

Before Qatar, Moreira had 78 points and Razgatlioglu had 18, giving the LCR rider a 60-point advantage. The final two rounds, Portimao and Valencia, offered 74 points in total. Moreira therefore needed at least 15 points at Lusail to extend his margin to 75, one more than the points still available. He scored none.

Once the Portuguese round is over, 37 points will remain at Valencia. Moreira will consequently become the mathematical and official 2026 Rookie of the Year if he leaves Portimao with a lead greater than 37 points. The threshold is based on the full points allocation remaining in the championship, rather than on whether Razgatlioglu can take part in the last events.