Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) will make his Suzuka 8 Hours debut in July after getting the call-up to replace Johann Zarco. The Thai rider, who moved to WorldSBK from MotoGP for the 2026 season, will step in for Zarco after he suffered ligament damage to his left knee as well as a small fibula fracture in the ankle area in a Turn 1 crash at the Catalan Grand Prix. It means Chantra will compete at Suzuka the week before the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship races at Donington Park.
Chantra will race for the first time at the historic race, which forms part of the FIM Endurance World Championship calendar, in early July. He will compete for the factory Honda effort alongside Takumi Takahashi and Jonathan Rea, the latter of whom he has competed alongside in WorldSBK this year as the six-time Champion stepped in to replace the injured Jake Dixon at Portimao and Assen.
Chantra’s racing career has had a huge amount of Honda HRC influence, being part of the family across Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP and WorldSBK and the Japanese manufacturer will hope his experience can help him, Takahashi and Rea take Honda to a fifth consecutive win at Suzuka.
Follow Chantra’s rookie WorldSBK campaign in style using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 30% off!