Diogo Moreira is set to enter the Moto2 World Championship this year, having been signed by the Italtrans Racing Team after two solid seasons in Moto3, both finishing in eighth place.
The promotion comes with its own challenges, including the need to gain weight after being more disciplined in Moto3, as he admitted to the site Motosan.es: ‘At the moment, I’m missing 1kg not to carry weight on the bike, but I’ve already gained 2kg, so I’m growing a bit more’.
Despite moving up a step on the path to MotoGP, Moreira does so without a title. When asked about the reasons for not achieving it, he commented: ‘Well, last year we started the championship very well. I had a lot of confidence in myself; every weekend was the same. I went to the track, and I was fast. But there came a moment when I put pressure on myself, and I think that’s what went wrong. I had achieved many podiums but wanted to win, and it wasn’t happening. Until there was a point where I started to crash. Mid-season, I had a lot of difficulty enjoying it. The mechanics saw that I wasn’t happy. I didn’t know what to do, and after the summer, I started to focus on enjoying it until the victory came’.
Despite the reported difficulties, Moreira never consulted a sports psychologist: ‘Many people asked me that. But I didn’t seek anyone. I sought my family, those around me. I think if you are well with those around you, in the end, it’s the best. I believe that was a positive aspect, and it’s what I try to do now. Come home and be well with your parents and the people you are with every day’.