Honda have made a ‘bizarre’ decision about the future of one of their MotoGP riders for 2026

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Honda’s 2026 MotoGP rider line-up is almost complete. Contract extensions for Johann Zarco and Luca Marini were announced before the Catalan Grand Prix.

Though he’s the brand’s top-performing rider in this year’s world championship, Zarco remains with satellite team LCR on a multi-year deal. Marini keeps his spot at the factory team, though he has only signed a contract covering 2026.

Marini’s teammate Joan Mir had already signed a two-year extension last year, so his future was never really in doubt. However, if Mir’s inconsistency continues, Honda may have second thoughts about keeping him beyond 2026.

For the fourth and final seat, Honda have acquired Diogo Moreira from Moto2. An announcement is thought to be imminent.

Neil Hodgson says Somkiat Chantra moving to World Superbikes would be ‘bizarre’

Moreira will replace Somkiat Chantra at LCR, with the Thai rider ousted after an uninspiring rookie season. Chantra ranks 26th in a championship with 22 full-time riders.

He has missed 10 events through injury, but based on his production in the other 32 (one point), it’s doubtful that this has had a major impact.

It’s been widely reported that Chantra will move to Honda’s World Superbikes team for 2026, racing alongside Jake Dixon. The Japanese giants rank fifth out of six manufacturers in the series, so TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson expects Chantra to struggle.

“It was too much too soon for Chantra unfortunately, and then he’s had injuries this year,” Hodgson said during TNT’s coverage of Catalan GP practice. “It’s not quite worked out. We know the Honda isn’t the easiest bike to jump on for a rookie.

• READ MORE: Jake Dixon could make 2026 MotoGP appearance for Honda thanks to key WSBK contract clause

“He was thrown in the deep end, and it’s not quite worked out. There are quite a lot of rumours now that he’s going to get moved to World Superbikes as Jake Dixon’s teammate, which would be bizarre!

“He’s the last person I would sign to go to World Superbikes in the deep end, on a bike that’s not that competitive. I could name five riders that I’d put in front of Chantra.”

Has Somkiat Chantra’s work ethic contributed to poor 2025 season?

Pundit Peter Bom suspects that Chantra doesn’t really want to be on the MotoGP grid. He naturally couldn’t turn down the offer, but he may not have been prepared.

Trackside observers said earlier in the season that Chantra looks ‘terrified’ riding the bike. Honda engineers apparently started disregarding his data, which may have been an indication that his stint on the RC213V would be short-lived.

It’s also been reported that Honda aren’t entirely satisfied with Chantra’s application. They may have given more consideration to keeping him if he’d shown a greater desire to improve.

The 26-year-old narrowly missed out on a second point in Barcelona as he finished 16th, but this was largely due to seven retirements. He’d qualified 24th, seven-tenths behind the next rider.