New Honda signing sidelined after training crash at Sepang, casting doubt over his availability for the 2026 season opener.
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Somkiat Chantra has suffered a major setback ahead of his World Superbike Championship debut after fracturing his right arm during a training incident in Malaysia.
The Thai rider, who recently joined Honda World Superbike Team, was injured while training at the Sepang International Circuit, just weeks before pre-season testing and a little over a month before the opening round of the 2026 World Superbike season.
Chantra made history last year as the first Thai rider to compete in MotoGP, earning a promotion to the premier class with LCR Honda. However, his rookie MotoGP campaign proved challenging, with Chantra scoring seven points across the season and finishing 26th in the championship standings.
Despite originally signing a two-year MotoGP deal with LCR Honda, Honda later decided to move Chantra into its WorldSBK project as part of a wider reset aimed at returning the brand to competitiveness in the production-based series.
With the new season approaching, Honda confirmed that Chantra’s preparations have now been disrupted by injury.
“Somkiat Chantra suffered a crash during a private training session at the Sepang International Circuit while riding a stock Honda CBR1000RR-R machine,” a statement from Honda read.
“The Thai rider was taken to hospital in Kuala Lumpur, where X-rays identified a fracture to his right forearm. Back in Thailand, Chantra will undergo further medical assessments. Honda HRC will provide additional updates in the coming days.”
No recovery timeline has been announced, leaving his participation in upcoming tests and the season opener in doubt. The 2026 World Superbike Championship is set to begin on 20–22 February at Phillip Island Circuit.
Chantra is due to be joined in Honda’s refreshed WorldSBK line-up by Jake Dixon, another Moto2 race winner making the switch from the grand prix paddock.
Honda has not claimed a WorldSBK victory since 2016 and has overhauled its rider roster for 2026, following the departures of Iker Lecuona to Ducati and Xavi Vierge to Yamaha. The move also marks a shift in strategy at LCR Honda, which has stepped away from reserving its second MotoGP seat exclusively for Asian riders.
For now, Chantra’s immediate focus will be on recovery, as Honda and the wider paddock await further updates on when he may be fit to return to action.
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