Ex-Moto2 winner set for MotoGP return with Honda at Motegi
Somkiat Chantra is set to make a return to MotoGP at next weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, stepping in for the injured Joan Mir.
Former Moto2 race winner Somkiat Chantra is set to make a return to MotoGP at Motegi, less than one year after losing his full-time seat.
The Thai rider will stand-in for Joan Mir, who continues to be sidelined by unconfirmed health issues, which have affected the factory HRC rider since Misano.
It also means that Chantra will replace the 2020 world champion at the same venue that saw him win for the final time in the Grand Prix paddock.
Chantra won the 2023 Japanese Moto2 race, which was his second victory in the class before earning a move to Honda for the 2025 MotoGP campaign.
However, Chantra’s debut season in MotoGP was more challenging than expected, with the Thai rider struggling to match other RC213V riders throughout.
Chantra could only manage five point-scoring results over the course of 17 races - the 27-year-old also missed five Grand Prix - before losing his LCR seat to Diogo Moreira for 2026.
Despite a challenging season in 2025, Chantra made history by becoming the first Thai rider in MotoGP.
After losing his 2026 ride to Moreira, Chantra then switched to World Superbike with the factory HRC team, which has proved equally tough.
That being said, a major highlight of his 2026 season includes victory alongside Takumi Takahashi and six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea, at the Suzuka 8 Hours race.
Speaking about the decision to replace Mir with Chantra, Honda said:
“Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) confirm that Somkiat Chantra will step in for Joan Mir at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, as the Spaniard continues his recovery and observation period following medical concerns first raised after the San Marino GP.
“Chantra, who competed in the premier class during the 2025 season with Honda LCR, has spent 2026 competing as part of HRC’s World Superbike programme. He now returns to the premier class at Motegi, a circuit holding personal significance as the site of his memorable Moto2 victory in 2023.”
The Japanese MotoGP takes place on October 2-4 with Aprilia’s Jorge Martin holding a narrow 12-point lead over Marc Marquez.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
