MotoGP Rider Somkiat Chantra Interview

The first MotoGP Rider from South East Asia

 ‘I am going to race for everybody this weekend. For my fans, family, Honda, my country Thailand, people related in my career and also for myself’, says Somkiat Chantra, rider of Idemitsu Honda LCR, the first MotoGP rider in Thailand. This was his message just before his first MotoGP Grand Prix at his home Chang International Circuit Thailand, Feb. 28 to Mar. 2 2025.

Expectation on Chantra was quite high in Thailand where motorcycle racing fever is higher than many other Asia countries. The first tests were held pre-season at Sepang International Circuit Malaysia and Chang International Circuit Thailand. Many fans arrived at the official Season Launch event at Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. There was a parade there with 22 MotoGP machines led by TUKTUKs, the famous tricycle of Thailand. Riders arrived to the stage at the big shopping center called One Bangkok to the delight of racing fans. You can imagine, the biggest cheer was for home hero Chantra.

Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup

 Somkiat Chantra was born in Chonburi in Dec. 15, 1988. He started riding bikes with his parents and at the same time, Honda started a racing school close to his house.

‘The charge was not expensive. You just bring your helmet and racing suit. My circuit riding learning started there.’

At the same time, HRC started a program supporting DORNA to train good young riders in the Asia Pacific region. That was the Asia Talent Cup, firstly started as Shell Advanced Asia Talent Cup. From 2017, it was named Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup.

‘I joined one year at the Honda school and was selected for the Asia Talent Cup’ said Chantra.

When this series started in 2014, all riders were using Honda NSF250R with a single make of tyre; today this is Pirelli. It’s a single-make, standardized series where conditions are equal, meaning rider talent is what makes the difference, allowing the stars of tomorrow to start to shine.

 Every year on the week of the Malaysian GP, a rider selection is held. Twenty riders will be selected from an initial 200. Only a few riders are carried over from the previous year to join more than 20 contenders. Twelve races are held during the season including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Qatar and Japan, sharing their race weekends with MotoGP and other famous races.

The Asia Talent Cup is a place where the next motorcycling stars develop. Being a Champion, a rider can step up to FIM Junior GP World Championship (once called FIM CEV Repsol International Championship) or Moto3, so it’s truly a step on the Road to MotoGP.

‘The level of the Asia Talent Cup is extremely high. There are many fast riders from all over Asia and I also learned a lot here’, said Chantra.

In the end of 2013, Chantra started making his was to the leading members of the Cup by setting fastest lap times. In 2014, his ranking was 11th, and 12th in 2015. In 2016, he won three races and became the Champion. For reference, Kaito Toba was the Champion in 2014 and Ayumi Sasaki in 2015. Both Japanese riders stepped up to Moto3 and Moto2 from this Talent Cup.

Later on, Chantra stepped up to FIM CEV Repsol International Championship in 2017 and 2018. He raced at Moto3 in Thailand as a wild card and finished 9th, earning his first points. Since then, Chantra’s name has become famous globally and a year later, in 2019, he started to race in Moto2 with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia.

First win in 2022 Indonesia GP

 Which race was the most impressive for Chantra after joining Idemitsu Honda Team Asia since 2019?

‘I was really happy when I won Moto2 at Mandalika Indonesia GP’, he says. He made a 3.2 second gap to Celestino Vietti behind him and won. He also achieved victory in Motegi at the Japanese GP by beating Ai Ogura in 2023.

Most of the fans were cheering for compatriot Ogura, the Japanese rider, but he did not flinch to his teammate. Ai Ogura became Moto2 Champion in 2024 after leaving Idemitsu Honda for another team.

Both Chantra and Ogura stepped up to MotoGP in 2025, Somkiat in Idemitsu Honda LCR and Ai, Trackhouse Aprilia. MotoGP, the dream of all riders. Chantra certainly was eager to race there, so when Takaaki Nakagami announced that he will retire, Chantra was expecting good news from Honda.

‘It was amazing hearing that I can race in MotoGP. I was fluttering because I know that Honda was talking in the meeting who would be the rider. When it was decided to be me, I immediately called my mother. She was happy as well’

His mother cried with tears hearing about racing in MotoGP.

First MotoGP ride in pre-season

 What attention did he take at the pre-season tests held in Sepang for 3 days and 2 days in Buriram?

‘MotoGP is really different than a Moto2 bike. When I tried MotoGP for the first time, I asked myself to be relaxed. Everything is new so I tried to learn the bike as much as. In my last day in Sepang, the team brought me new parts. The test was good and I felt really happy.

‘The difference between MotoGP and Moto2 is traction control which Moto2 does not have. Also tyre management is more difficult. I am learning step by step.’

Takaaki Nakagami who was a rider on Honda LCR is now a test rider in HRC. Nakagami was paying attention to Chantra at trackside in Sepang.

‘Yes, Nakagami-san was watching me carefully and gave me much advise in the pit box. The characteristics of a MotoGP bike, way to ride, how to manage the tyre and about safety.’

 What is important to become faster?

‘I need more acceleration at the exit of corners. That is very important’ says Chantra.

 What did you think watching Marc Marquez trackside?

Chantra: ‘He is very fast in corners.’

 Did you talk with Honda riders Joan Mir, Luca Marini from Honda HRC Castrol and Johann Zarco; Castrol Honda LCR?

‘Zarco is my teammate so we spoke about it a lot. He saw how I ride in track, in front and from behind, and gave me advice.’

 Besides Chantra, there is Ai Ogura; Trackhouse Aprillia and Fermin Aldeguer; Gresini Ducati as MotoGP rookies. Both will be his rival for Rookie of the Year. What does he think of these rivals, especially Ogura?

‘I talk with Ogura a lot when we meet because it is the first time for us riding a MotoGP bike. For sure he is my rival but I will concentrate to do my best’

 Physically, MotoGP gives you more load than Moto2, so did you make any special workouts before the season?

‘I keep training the upper part of my body. It is important to gain more muscle to be fast in MotoGP.’

Debut in Thailand MotoGP

 In the first race in 2025, 220,000 spectators over three days in total arrived at the Thai GP. In the grandstands, there were many Chantra fans in red T shirts with 35, his number. Also, there were huge flags with 35 as well.

Due to being the first MotoGP rider in Thailand, he Chantra is famous in his country and was on TV many times. Fans are becoming ever more enthusiastic about Motorsport in Thailand due to his arrival in MotoGP.

The result of his Thai GP was 21st in Qualifying, 19th in the Sprint Race on Saturday and 18th in the Race, learning a lot.

‘It was a good experience riding in my country and in front of my fans. It was a hard race but I was trying to avoid mistakes and did my best’ says Chantra.

There was a smile after the race, riding his best for everybody. His challenge has just begun.

Text by: Yoko Togashi