After confusion and disappointment: Honda’s second rider has now been confirmed

In May 2026, SPEEDWEEK.com reported that Honda Racing Corporation was considering setting up a satellite team for 2027, financed with funds from the Thai oil company PTT. This would have allowed the Japanese to elegantly sideline the underperforming Somkiat Chantra without losing face. At the same time, a third Fireblade on the grid would have been very useful following the withdrawal of Midori Moriwaki’s team. Chantra was quite taken with these plans and would have been delighted to ride for an Asian team. However, things have since gone quiet regarding this project, and as the year progressed, there were increasing signs that Honda would carry on with the current line-up – as was confirmed on 7 October.

It is now more than ten years since Nicky Hayden won a World Superbike race for Honda in the rain at Sepang, Malaysia. The start of the 2026 season was disastrous for the leading motorbike manufacturer, with injuries to Jake Dixon and Chantra, but recently there has been a glimmer of hope: at the event in Cremona at the end of September, both Honda riders managed to score points in both main races for the first time this season.

Chantra had already impressed the Honda management when he stepped in for the injured Johann Zarco at the Suzuka Eight Hours and won alongside Jonathan Rea and Takumi Takahashi. Last weekend, the Thai rider also performed better than expected at the MotoGP in Motegi, Japan, finishing 14th in the Sprint and 13th in the Grand Prix as a replacement for former world champion Joan Mir in the Honda works team, leaving several regular riders behind him on both occasions.

“I’m really delighted to be riding for Honda in WorldSBK for another season,” said Chantra on his contract extension. “This year has been a challenge for me, with a new championship, a new bike and lots of new circuits that I first had to get to know. But step by step, I’ve gained experience and developed a better understanding of the CBR1000RR-R SP. I really appreciate the continued trust that HRC has placed in me. I’m highly motivated to keep working hard, make further progress and achieve even better results in 2027.”

HRC Managing Director Taichi Honda added: “We believe there is still significant potential for us to develop further together, and the continuity of our rider line-up will be important as HRC continues to work on strengthening our WorldSBK project. We look forward to continuing on this path with Somkiat and seeing him make further progress in 2027.”

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