Somkiat Chantra

Somkiat Chantra is a Thai motorcycle racer who competes in the Superbike World Championship with the Honda HRC team 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 in 2025.

Background

After winning the Asia Talent Cup in 2016, Chantra progressed through the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship before moving into the Grand Prix paddock. He competed in Moto2 with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia from 2019 to 2024, becoming the first Thai rider to win in the category, with victories at Mandalika in 2022 and Motegi in 2023. His best Moto2 season came in 2023, when he finished sixth overall.

Following his 2025 MotoGP campaign, Chantra began a new chapter in 2026, joining the WorldSBK paddock with the Honda HRC team alongside British rider Jake Dixon.

On 5 July 2026, Chantra joined Honda HRC’s challenge in the 47th “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, replacing Johann Zarco in the factory team’s line-up alongside Takumi Takahashi and Jonathan Rea. Making his debut with Honda HRC at one of the world’s most prestigious endurance races, the Thai rider played an important role in the team’s preparation and overall effort throughout the race week, contributing to Honda HRC’s historic fifth consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours victory.