History will be made in 2025 as former Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Champion, Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia), makes the jump up to MotoGP™ with IDEMITSU Honda LCR to become 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 gain promotion to MotoGP™ in a special announcement for the Road to MotoGP™ series, Honda Team Asia and Japan. Ogura’s former Moto2™ teammate Chantra makes it two former ATC riders to earn themselves a seat at the premier class table.

Chantra’s first two 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.