CHANTRA SCORES MOTOGP POINTS ON MOTEGI RETURN

Somkiat Chantra left Motegi feeling that his one-off return to MotoGP had given him something his difficult 2025 campaign rarely did: the chance to compete closely with the riders around him.

The Thai rider stepped in for Joan Mir at Honda HRC after Mir was unable to race because of illness that had kept him out since the Misano round in mid-September. It was Chantra’s first MotoGP appearance since moving to WorldSBK at the end of last year, and his first time racing on Michelin tyres in more than 10 months. He finished 15th in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, earning three points.

That result was modest, but the experience meant much more to Chantra. His sole MotoGP season in 2025 had been disrupted by injuries, and he scored only seven points, with 13th his best finish. His start in WorldSBK was also hampered by injury; after getting fit, he had yet to break into the top 10.

“I’m so happy,” Chantra said after the race. Comparing Motegi with his previous MotoGP season, he said he was “much, much happier” this year. “Even I got three points, but I feel it was quite amazing because this time, even though I came for [a replacement ride], I feel like I had a chance.”

The opportunity to race among the pack was central to his satisfaction. “I was so happy because I can stay with all the riders, I can have some fight and also some fun with the riders,” he said. “I was so happy.”

Chantra also credited the Honda’s immediate feel. He said he had needed little adjustment after his first outing in Friday practice, making only small engine-braking changes at a handful of corners. “When I come back, I say to the team, ‘The bike, everything was correct, I don’t need to change anything,’ because the power, the traction, the engine brake was working well,” he explained.

He added that he was focused on adapting his riding to the machine rather than making major setup changes. “Just some corners I adapt with the engine brake, maybe only two or three corners, and that’s it,” Chantra said. “The bike was working well. [Sunday] was amazing for me.”