Not all preseason MOTOGP predictions will come true.
The cry about rookies facing great adversity already appears to be possible flat.
Somkiat Chantra was anxious for MotoGP spectators, but he delivered two respectable rounds to kickstart his first year.
“I thought this guy would be struggling,” admitted Neil Hodgson of TNT Sports.
“I thought it might be embarrassing – he thought it was where Lorenzo Sabadoli was.
Michael Leberty wasn’t too surprised to see Chantra already going well in MotoGP.
“Ai Ogra came in and I was at the pace right away,” Laberty said.
“I have little hopes for Chantra and I mix it up.
“It’s coming from Moto2 and you can get into the pace of MotoGP. It’s a relatively easy transition these days.”
Hodgson added: “Chantra, at one point last year, he was struggling to make it into the top 10.”
Chantra was 12th overall in Moto2 last year, but was selected by LCR Honda to become the first Thai MotoGP rider.
He finished 18th in each of the first two Grand Prixes of 2025.
However, Chantra is clearly riding the worst bike of 2024, so his performance doesn’t shame himself.
Joan Mir: “Back to a sharp end”
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The standout Honda rider of 2025 is LCR’s Johann Zarko.
Zarco came in third in Argentina and then finished in P4 and P6.
But factory Honda rider Joan Mir is also catching eye after two gloomy seasons with the makers.
Mir claimed a top-10 finish pair in Argentina.
“I love seeing MiR come back on the sharp edges of MotoGP,” said Gavin Emmett of TNT Sports.
Neil Hodgson said:
Emmett replied: “Suzuki was pulled out and he was forced to switch to Honda. Since then? We’ve spoken to him, Joan is a friendly chap, and he says hello.
“But you feel like there’s nothing there behind ‘hello’. ”
Hodgson: “He looked miserable. It’s very understandable. It’s a long season when you’re having a bad time, people doubt you, you don’t enjoy it, and you’re making your face every weekend.”
Honda appears to have something to cheer in the end – although that coincided with the exit of veteran Takaki Nakagami.
China lost its race seating and is now a test rider for Honda.
“The last six seasons he rode an uncompetitive bike,” Hodgson said.
“He’s gone and Honda is taking a step forward!”
Emmett added: “I spoke to Stephen Braddle.
“They have three test riders and Nagashima in the background too. They use concessions as much as they can and throw a lot of it.”
Honda can utilize the MotoGP concession system to win a march with four manufacturers that last year was significantly ahead of them.