Ogura and Chantra in the Spotlight as Potential LCR Shake-Up Emerges
Lucio Checchinello reveals which two riders still have a chance to secure the second LCR Honda seat. Somkiat Chantra is one of them.
As the 2025 MotoGP season approaches, the final spots on the grid are being filled, and some significant changes are on the horizon. In particular, LCR Honda, led by former GP star Lucio Cecchinello, is set to see a rider shake-up.
With Johann Zarco secure in one seat, the team looks poised to replace the struggling Taka Nakagami with Somkiat Chantra which would make him the first Thai rider in MotoGP.
Racing for Team Asia under Idemitsu sponsorship since 2019, Chantra’s potential move to MotoGP would be a big leap towards Honda’s massive Thai market. As Cecchinello noted, “For now, only Chantra and Nakagami remain candidates for 2025.”
Nakagami, on the other hand, has been with LCR Honda since 2018. Despite showing promise with fourth-place finishes in the past, the Japanese has struggled to keep pace in recent years.
Competing against riders like Luca Marini, Joan Mir, and teammate Zarco, he is sure his performance is being hindered by an uncompetitive Honda.
“To be honest, it’s not fair to judge my potential based on this season”, Nakagami argued, emphasizing the challenges faced by all Honda riders.
Simultaneously, there’s buzz around Ai Ogura, who is in talks with Trackhouse Racing and Aprilia. Although the logical step seemed for Ogura to join Honda, he may “prefer a bike that is already competitive” for his MotoGP debut, notes Lucio Cecchinello.
Fellow Japanese Nakagami supports the Moto2 prospect in his fight to become a premier class rider. “For Ai, it’s a good chance. He has the speed and a strong mentality and is fighting for the championship in Moto2. It’s good for the future of Japanese riders.”
With Ogura poised to take over Miguel Oliveira’s Trackhouse Racing Aprilia, Nakagami remians hopeful to secure a seat for another year in MotoGP.
“Yes, my Plan A is to stay with the same team and continue,” he confirmed, though acknowledging that a decision is pending discussions with Honda management.
