Diogo Moreira may be a Moto2 world champion, but he admits his mind and body were not prepared for MotoGP machinery.
The 21-year-old Brazilian has stepped up to the premier class with LCR Honda this year and scored points in all three events so far, courtesy of 13th places in the Buriram, Goiania and COTA grands prix.
“MotoGP is another world, compared to playing football or basketball,” Moreira told MotoGP.com.
“It’s impossible to compare to anything else. There is a lot of adrenaline… But for me, adrenaline is the best feeling in the world.
“The first time I went on track with the MotoGP bike, the feeling and the emotion were super difficult to control.
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“My mind and body were not prepared for the speed.
“We need to be crazy, because if not, we cannot do [what we do]… 340km/h on the straights, every lap on the same pace.
“We need to push always, and when we crash, we need to forget and try again. So I would say we are super crazy!”
“Another world”
Moreira’s MotoGP journey began with a leap of faith a decade ago, when he moved from Brazil to Europe with his father to chase his racing dream.
“You need to have talent, and I would say more than talent, passion for this sport,” he said.
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“We came to Europe with my father when I was 12 years old, more or less. It was difficult to stop that life and come to another world.
“But I think it was super good for us, because coming to Europe and seeing and training with all the MotoGP riders was super good, I learned a lot.
“All my life I was dreaming of this, and at the end we became a MotoGP rider.”
Moreira is 16th in the world championship, eight points ahead of rookie rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pramac Yamaha), heading into the opening European round at Jerez later this month.
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