Written by Claire Franceries, Edited by Julia Bissessar
25-year old Somkiat Chantra became the first Thai rider in MotoGP after his thrilling and inspiring rise through the ranks of motorcycle racing.

Born in 1998 in Chonburi, Thailand, Somkiat Chantra’s journey to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing was anything but ordinary.
Far from the European continent, the young rider began his journey to MotoGP with the Asia Talent Cup in 2014, alongside fellow rookie Ai Ogura of Japan. Chantra won the 2016 edition, becoming the first — and only — Thai rider to do so.
In 2017, determined to succeed in motorcycle racing, the young Thai rider moved to Spain. He then competed in the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship.
In his very first race of the season, he secured pole position, a feat that left a lasting first impression — despite crashing out during the race.
The following year, Chantra stayed in the same championship. He also made a wildcard appearance in Moto3 at his home race, the Thai Grand Prix (GP). With the support of his fellow countrymen, the young rider crossed the finish line in ninth place.
With this impressive finish, he scored seven points for AP Honda Racing and made another lasting impression.
This result earned him a full-time ride in the Moto2 World Championship in 2019 with the team that would become his racing family: Idemitsu Honda Team Asia.
Chantra had his breakthrough in his fourth season in Moto2, in 2022. He started the year with a Did Not Start (DNS) but quickly bounced back with his first win in the category at the Indonesian GP.
With three more triumphant podium finishes and seven difficult retirements during the 2022 season, Chantra’s performance was a mixture of high and lows.
The inconsistency hindered his chances of becoming a title contender. He finished tenth overall in the standings.
Chantra spent two more years in the same category, winning another race in Japan and finishing sixth in the overall standings during the 2023 season, his best season in Moto2.

2024 marked Somkiat Chantra’s sixth — and final — year in Moto2. His season was marred by a notable incident during the Indonesian GP, where fellow rookie Fermín Aldeguer ran over the Thai rider’s leg as he pulled it out to enter a corner. Chantra had to retire from the race due to pain in his right leg following the incident.
He was unable to race in Japan and Australia, he returned to his home GP in Thailand, where he almost clinched a podium, finishing fourth — his best result of the entire 2024 season.
Chantra finished 12th in the standings during his last season in Moto2. While it may not have been his best finish in the category, it did not prevent him from signing a contract with a MotoGP team.
In August, LCR Honda announced that Takaaki Nakagami would step down from MotoGP, and that the Japanese rider would be replaced by Chantra for the 2025 season.
By signing this contract, the young rider made history, becoming the first-ever Thai rider to join the MotoGP category.
For the first time, Thailand — a country that loves bikes so much — would have a representative in the most prestigious class of motorcycle racing.
The 25-year-old expressed his excitement to the media about becoming a MotoGP rider in 2025:
“I’m excited to join the LCR team. Stepping into MotoGP has always been my dream, and I finally made it true.
"For the next season, I’m committed to learning, giving my maximum, and enjoying this new adventure. It will be difficult, but I will give my best.”

Somkiat Chantra took his first laps in MotoGP during the Barcelona post-season test. Unlike most rookies, he was already somewhat familiar with his new team, LCR Honda — having been part of the Honda family since 2018, when he raced for AP Honda Racing Thailand during his time in Moto3.
However, familiarity didn’t make his first MotoGP outing any less nerve-wracking. But nerves are to be expected when you’re riding for the first time with seasoned competitors.
“I was quite nervous before going on the bike. I almost had a heart attack,” Chantra remarked after his first test ride.
After completing 61 laps and experiencing a minor crash during the test, Chantra ended up second-to-last on the timesheets, with a lap time of 1:47.596.
The rookie also had to say goodbye to the Pirelli tyres used in Moto2, saying “I was also learning about the tyres, which are different from Moto2.
We use Michelin tyres here. My team always tells me to be careful on the left side, because the tyres cool down very quickly in a straight line. I was also trying to manage the rubber.”
After his first session, the Thai rider acknowledged the physical demands of riding a MotoGP bike. “I suffered a bit, especially in my back,” he admitted. “So, during the winter, I’ll try to work out in the gym.”
Even though the Japanese manufacturer is currently struggling, Somkiat Chantra will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to race in the premier class. As it is often said in Thailand, “When the water rises, it is best to scoop it up (น้ำขึ้นให้รีบตัก).”
With the support of his team and the guidance of Johann Zarco — his new teammate, with a year of experience on the Honda bike — Chantra will have all the tools to approach his first MotoGP season with confidence.
We can only wait and see if his path in MotoGP will be paved with as much gold as the temples of his home country.
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