The Japanese GP will see Honda HRC WorldSBK’s Somkiat Chantra replace Joan Mir aboard the Honda HRC Castrol RC213V as the 2020 World Champion continues his recovery.
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Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has confirmed that Somkiat Chantra will step in for Joan Mir at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. Mir remains on the sidelines to undergo a recovery and observation period following medical concerns that arose after the San Marino GP.
Chantra, who made history as Thailand’s first premier-class rider when he raced for Honda LCR in 2025, currently competes in HRC’s World Superbike (WorldSBK) programme. Despite battling through pre-season injuries during his 2026 WorldSBK campaign, Chantra has secured points finishes on seven occasions.
The return to Motegi carries strong personal significance for Chantra, who claimed a memorable Moto2 victory at the circuit in 2023, followed by a 15th-place finish aboard the Honda RC213V during his 2025 MotoGP outing.
HRC confirmed that updates regarding Joan Mir’s condition will be announced following the Indonesian Grand Prix as he continues his physical recovery.
Motegi has long been a strong circuit for Somkiat Chantra. The Thai rider stormed to his second Moto2 victory at the Mobility Resort Motegi in 2023, following up on a solid fifth-place finish the previous year. His success at the track extends back to his early days in the Asia Talent Cup, where he secured a sixth-place finish in 2014 before claiming P6 and P4 results two seasons later.
During his groundbreaking 2025 rookie premier-class campaign as Thailand’s first-ever MotoGP rider, Chantra earned one of his five point-scoring finishes at Motegi, matching his second-best result of the season with a 15th-place finish aboard the Honda LCR RC213V.
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