Honda HRC Confirms Somkiat Chantra and Jake Dixon for 2026 WorldSBK Season

Thai MotoGP rider Somkiat Chantra and British Moto2 star Jake Dixon join Honda HRC’s WorldSBK factory team in 2026, strengthening Honda’s bid to return to the top of the championship.

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Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has officially announced that Somkiat Chantra and Jake Dixon will join the Honda HRC factory team for the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Both riders bring proven success from the Moto2 World Championship, forming a dynamic and international line-up with the talent to fight at the sharp end of WorldSBK.

Chantra, representing Asian motorsport, and Dixon, carrying European racing heritage, embody Honda’s global commitment to excellence. Together, they aim to push the factory team back toward the top of the championship.

Taichi Honda, HRC General Manager, expressed his excitement about the new signings: “We are pleased to welcome Somkiat Chantra and Jake Dixon as factory riders of the Honda HRC WorldSBK Team from 2026.”

“Chantra, the first Thai rider ever to win in Moto2 and to race in MotoGP, now takes an important new step within the Honda family, extending his career at the international top level as the first Thai rider to compete full-time in the Superbike World Championship as a factory rider.” 

“Dixon, a multiple Moto2 Grand Prix winner, has consistently demonstrated the speed and determination required to succeed in a championship as competitive as WorldSBK. Together, their talent, experience, and racing spirit will be valuable assets as we continue to strengthen our position in the series. We remain fully committed to the WorldSBK project, with a clear goal – to bring Honda back to the top of the championship.”

Somkiat Chantra – Thailand’s Rising Star

Born on December 15, 1998, in Chonburi, Thailand, Somkiat Chantra currently competes in the MotoGP World Championship with IDEMITSU Honda LCR after making his premier class debut in 2025. A product of the Asia Talent Cup, which he won in 2016, Chantra progressed through the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship before stepping into Moto2 with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia in 2019.

He made history as the first Thai rider to win in Moto2, securing victories at the Indonesian GP in Mandalika (2022) and the Japanese GP in Motegi (2023). He closed the 2024 Moto2 season in 12th place overall with 104 points. His move to WorldSBK marks another historic milestone as the first Thai rider to compete full-time as a factory rider in the championship.

Jake Dixon – Proven Moto2 Contender

Born on January 15, 1996, in Dover, England, Jake Dixon currently races in Moto2 with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team. After finishing runner-up in the 2018 British Superbike Championship, Dixon established himself as one of Moto2’s most competitive riders. He has collected six Grand Prix victories, including wins at Assen and Catalunya in 2023, Silverstone and Aragón in 2024, and Argentina and COTA in 2025.

Over his Moto2 career, Dixon has amassed 21 podium finishes and eight pole positions, making him a strong contender as he steps into WorldSBK.

With Chantra and Dixon, Honda HRC signals a renewed commitment to competing at the highest level in WorldSBK, with the 2026 season marking the beginning of an ambitious new chapter.