Johann Zarco’s strong performances this MotoGP season have highlighted the contrasting fortunes within the LCR Honda team, as his rookie teammate Somkiat Chantra faces significant challenges adapting to the premier class. Zarco’s success has stood out particularly after Honda promoted Chantra following Ai Ogura’s unexpected move to Aprilia.
At 34 years old, Zarco is experiencing a remarkable revival. He secured a notable victory at Le Mans last month and nearly repeated his success with a close second-place finish at Silverstone, narrowly trailing Marco Bezzecchi. These results have propelled him to fifth in the championship standings, making him the highest-ranked rider outside the dominant Ducati camp.
Zarco’s Performance Defies Age and Team Limitations
Zarco’s achievements are impressive given his age and the satellite team environment he races in, which lacks the extensive resources available to Honda’s factory squad. Although Zarco benefits from factory support through his contract, the support infrastructure at Lucio Cecchinello’s LCR team is comparatively modest. Despite these constraints, Zarco remains highly competitive against younger competitors entering MotoGP.
While Zarco is in ongoing negotiations to extend his contract with Honda, his strong form simultaneously casts a spotlight on the struggles of his teammate, Somkiat Chantra. Unlike Zarco, Chantra has not scored any points this season and occupies the bottom of the standings.
Challenges and Controversies Surround Somkiat Chantra’s Promotion
Chantra’s rookie season has been disappointing, showing regression rather than development. His lack of competitiveness has become a concern not only for LCR but for Honda as a whole. Reports suggest that commercial motivations influenced Honda’s decision to promote Chantra from Moto2, rather than purely sporting merit.
Chantra’s advancement came after two key riders declined the seat: Takaaki Nakagami retired to join Honda’s test team, and Ai Ogura chose to leave Honda’s MotoGP setup for Aprilia before even clinching the Moto2 title. This left Honda with limited options and led to Chantra’s selection despite his 12th-place finish in the 2024 Moto2 championship and a career record that includes just two wins and six podiums—all achieved before 2024.
This decision reflects LCR’s commitment to Honda, especially the Asian division supported by title sponsor Idemitsu. The Japanese petroleum giant backs Honda’s broader strategy to nurture Asian talent, starting with the Asia Talent Cup and progressing to opportunities like Chantra’s seat on the RC213V in MotoGP. However, the effectiveness of this strategy depends on the rider’s readiness, which remains uncertain in Chantra’s case as Thailand’s first MotoGP competitor.
Somkiat Chantra’s Difficult Start in MotoGP
Chantra has faced numerous difficulties in his six race starts this year, missing the French Grand Prix due to arm-pump surgery complications. His results have frequently placed him at the rear of the field with the gap to race leaders increasing significantly as the season advanced. For example, his 31-second deficit to Marc Marquez at the opening race in Buriram grew to over a minute at Silverstone. Other races showed similarly widening gaps, including 38 seconds behind Marquez in Qatar, a full minute adrift of Francesco Bagnaia in Austin, and a retirement at Jerez while already far behind the frontrunners.
While his surgery and arm issues partly explain his struggles, they do not fully justify the consistent underperformance. Honda Racing Corporation engineers reportedly discount the data from Chantra’s bike due to his lap times, which are often more than 1.5 seconds slower per lap than other Honda riders. This reluctance to incorporate his feedback hampers development efforts, a costly drawback for Honda as it attempts to regain competitiveness after several challenging seasons.
Future Prospects for LCR Honda Riders
LCR’s contract with Honda gives the manufacturer full control over rider line-up decisions. Team principal Lucio Cecchinello has expressed interest in retaining Zarco, contingent on successful contract talks with Honda’s factory team. However, Chantra’s future with LCR remains uncertain, given his performance has not met expectations so far.
Despite the difficulties, there remains a slim chance for Chantra to improve and justify his place in the team. Such a turnaround would be crucial not only for LCR but also for Honda’s broader ambitions to establish a strong Asian presence in MotoGP. Meanwhile, Zarco’s continued success solidifies his status as a vital asset for the team and a standout rider capable of challenging the sport’s leading figures.
