Diogo Moreira's impressive Brno Sprint came to an abrupt end after the Pro Honda LCR rider crashed on the opening lap while fighting for a podium position.
The Brazilian enjoyed a breakthrough qualifying session earlier in the day, securing sixth on the grid, his best MotoGP qualifying result to date. The strong performance left him optimistic heading into the Sprint race.
"Today was a good day despite the result. We had a strong qualifying session and I learned a lot from my rivals," Moreira said.
Starting from the second row, the rookie made an excellent launch off the line and quickly worked his way into third place, putting himself in contention for a top-three finish.
"We chose the soft tyre, which I think was the right decision, and got a good start," he said.
Moreira looked comfortable among the front-runners as he pushed to stay with the leading group. However, his race ended before the completion of the first lap when he crashed at Turn 12 after losing the front of his bike.
"I pushed to stay with the group, but in the end I carried a bit too much speed into that corner and lost the front," he explained.
While the result was disappointing, Moreira chose to focus on the positives from a day that showcased his growing speed and confidence in the premier class. The rookie believes the experience gained from battling at the front will be valuable as he continues his development.
"We're rookies, and these things happen. We'll try again tomorrow!" he said.
With encouraging pace throughout the weekend and his strongest qualifying result in MotoGP, Moreira and the Pro Honda LCR team remain hopeful of converting that potential into a strong finish in Sunday's Grand Prix at Brno.
