Moreira blames old Moto2 elbow injury for Qatar retirement

Diogo Moreira says a nerve problem in his elbow, linked to a crash at the Sachsenring in Moto2 last year, caused his retirement from the Qatar MotoGP grand prix. He had struggled through the weekend in Lusail, qualifying 16th after finishing 17th in practice, and had been 10th in the Sprint before stopping on lap seven of the grand prix.

Moreira said he was already in pain during the Malaysia round and that the condition worsened over the Asian races. He suggested the intensity of the calendar, with many days on the bike and circuits featuring many right-hand corners, had contributed to the deterioration. He described feeling the pain in the final laps of the Sprint and said it became impossible to ride through on Sunday.

The Honda rider said he had a week to rest and continue training, and that he expects to be back at full fitness for the Portimao round.