Somkiat Chantra
Somkiat Chantra is a Thai motorcycle racer who will compete in the Superbike World Championship with Honda HRC from 2026. Born in Chon Buri, Thailand on 15 December 1998, Chantra is a graduate of the Asia Talent Cup and made history as the first Thai rider to compete in MotoGP, racing with Idemitsu Honda LCR during the 2025 season.
Background
After winning the Asia Talent Cup in 2016, Chantra progressed through the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship. His Grand Prix career began with a standout Moto3 wildcard appearance at his home race in Thailand in 2018, which earned him a full-time ride in Moto2 the following season. Chantra is a two-time Moto2 race winner, having competed in the category with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia between 2019 and 2024 and establishing himself as one of Asia’s leading riders on the world stage. He became the first Thai rider to win in Moto2, with victories in the Indonesian GP at Mandalika in 2022 and the Japanese GP at Motegi in 2023. Chantra scored his best overall result in 2023, when he completed the season in sixth place overall with 173.5 points. 2025 brought a move to MotoGP with Idemitsu Honda LCR, and a season’s best of thirteenth in the Indonesian GP at the Mandalika Circuit.
Eager for more following his 2025 MotoGP campaign, 28-year-old Chantra will begin a new chapter in 2026, stepping into the WorldSBK paddock with Honda HRC, where he will line up alongside Jake Dixon.
Career Stats
2014 – Asia Talent Cup – 11th
2015 – Asia Talent Cup – 12th
2016 – Asia Talent Cup – champion
2017 – CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship – 20th
2018 – CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship – 9th
2018 – Moto3 World Championship – 33rd
2019 – Moto2 World Championship – 21st
2020 – Moto2 World Championship – 25th
2021 – Moto2 World Championship – 18th
2022 – Moto2 World Championship – 10th
2023 – Moto2 World Championship – 6th
2024 – Moto2 World Championship – 12th
2025 – MotoGP World Championship – 26th
