Somkiat Chantra Makes History as Thailand’s First MotoGP Rider

Somkiat Chantra is set to make history as Thailand's first MotoGP rider, debuting at the season-opening race in Buriram this Sunday. The 26-year-old expressed his excitement and nervousness about the event, stating, 'It’s amazing, it’s like a dream come true.' He will be racing for Honda-LCR alongside French teammate Johann Zarco, who is eager to support him during this transition to the premier class. Despite facing challenges in official testing, where his lap times were among the slowest, Somkiat felt '99 percent' satisfaction with his bike after a recent session. He replaces Takaaki Nakagami and enters the MotoGP after spending six years in Moto2 with only two victories, but he finished his last season strong, securing podiums in his final two races. His debut marks a significant milestone for Thai motorsport and Southeast Asian representation in MotoGP.