History will be made in 2025! 2016 Asia Talent Cup Champion Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) will make the jump up to MotoGP with IDEMITSU Honda LCR, becoming the first-ever Thai rider to compete in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
At the Austrian GP, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) was the first rider who rose through the ATC ranks to have his promotion to MotoGP announced. Ogura’s former Moto2 teammate Chantra now makes it two ATC alumni to earn themselves a seat at the premier class table in 2025, only just after a decade after the Cup began.
Chantra’s seasons in the ATC birthed immediate success, with 2016 seeing the Thai star lift the title – the first from his country to do so. Two years in the JuniorGP World Championship followed, with a wildcard Thai GP appearance in the Moto3 World Championship in 2018 seeing Chantra claim a mightily impressive P9 on home turf.
Following a successful Grand Prix debut, Chantra jumped into the Moto2 World Championship in 2019 and in 2022, a first victory came his and Thailand’s way at the Indonesian GP. Chantra backed that win up with another 25-point collection in 2023 at the Japanese GP on his way to a career-best P6 overall finish in the intermediate class.
Soon, at the close of the 2024 campaign, Thailand will have a MotoGP hero from their country to cheer on. And don’t forget where we’re racing first in 2025 – that’s right, Buriram! The Thai GP is always packed full of tremendous Thai supporters who are in fantastic voice from Friday to Sunday, and we know that dial will be turned up a notch or two when Chantra arrives as a MotoGP rider.
From the ATC to MotoGP. What a journey it’s been so far for Chantra and Ogura, who act as the pioneers for more Thai, Japanese and Asian rising stars to hopefully follow. A historic chapter awaits in 2025!
SOMKIAT CHANTRA: “I was very happy when I knew that I would be in MotoGP next year, I was so happy and I was crying when I was calling my mum because I was so happy. Also, I want to say thank you to all the people who supported me.”
Your MotoGP debut will be in Buriram, how special is that going to be?
“Yeah, also the big news will be that we will start in Buriram for my first race which will also be my home race. There are fast riders here and I hope they will teach me something and we can enjoy Buriram in the first race!”
How do you feel by looking at the picture from 2016 to knowing that you will be in MotoGP next year?
“This year was very nice, I also won my home race which was very nice and next year I will start the race also in Buriram which should be good.”
