LCR Honda announced that Somkiat Chantra will not be able to participate in the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix due to injuries, but will only be exchanged for the latter.
The Thai rider has been absent since after a ligament injury to his right knee in a training incident following the Dutch Grand Prix in June.
On Wednesday, August 13th, Somkiat Chantra was checked at Barcelona’s Dexeus Hospital and was deemed unfit to return to competition at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
Due to short notice, the LCR was unable to secure an alternative to this weekend’s Red Bull Ring event, but will have HRC test rider Aleix Espargaro on the field at next week’s Hungarian Ligue Rampuri.
The winner of the three MotoGP race, Espargaro has already joined the three Grand Prix Weekends of 2025 as part of his Test Rider mission.
He raced back at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he finished at points, but was later demoted due to a pressure penalty on the tire.
He competed for the second wild card at the British Grand Prix.
Espargaro started his third start at the Dutch Grand Prix alongside the Factory Honda team in place of the injured Luca Marini, finishing from point in 16th place.
Espargaro has also adopted professional cycling since retiring from MotoGP and joining Honda as a test rider.
However, a crash in his racing debut in July caused him to break his hand.
However, he is testing Honda in Barcelona this week, showing a quick recovery from a cycling injury.
The LCR will be represented only by Johann Salco at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
The injury has proven to exacerbate what was a disastrous rookie season for Chantra, who scored only one point this year.
His best result on the 15th came at the Dutch Grand Prix before a knee injury, but he was not eligible for more than 19 days of the year.
Given his struggle, Honda’s paddock has moved away from the spirit of giving Idetzitz-backed LCR Honda to Asian riders for next year, given that there is no competitive option.
Chantra’s signature to replace Takaki Nakagami, who held that seat from 2018 until last year, was made for commercial reasons with great interest in MotoGP in his hometown of Thailand.