Somkiat to start historic season with Sepang tests
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Somkiat to start historic season with Sepang tests

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Thai rider Somkiat Chantra will take part in the Sepang Winter Test early next month. Apichart Jinakul
Thai rider Somkiat Chantra will take part in the Sepang Winter Test early next month. Apichart Jinakul

Somkiat Chantra, who signed a two-year contract with the LCR Honda team last August to become the first MotoGP rider from Thailand, is set to begin his new journey at Sepang Shakedown early next month.

Heading into the upcoming winter testing, the 26-year-old Red Bull rider from Chon Buri is ready to take on the premier class of motorcycle racing with full support from the European energy drink brand.

After Sepang, a pre-season test will take place on Feb 12-13 at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram.

Somkiat, who will race alongside Johann Zarco at LCR Honda, will make his MotoGP debut at the season-opening Grand Prix of Thailand, which is scheduled to take place on Feb 28-March 2 at the Buri Ram track.

Up for challenge

Somkiat enters the 2025 season with determination to deliver a competitive performance in the MotoGP, starting off with the upcoming Sepang Winter Test early next month. The rookie plans to focus on honing his skills and adapting to the demands of the premier class of motorcycle sport.

"As a kid, I always dreamed of becoming a MotoGP rider, but I never imagined it would actually happen. Even competing in Moto2 felt like an incredible achievement. But now, racing in MotoGP has surpassed all my expectations." Somkiat said.

"I honestly can't wait for the winter test at Sepang. It's just a few days away, and I'm really excited. I recently completed testing in Catalunya, Spain, and that experience was eye-opening," he added.

"It showed me there's still so much to learn and adapt to with this new bike. At Sepang, my goal is to absorb as much as I can and prepare myself as thoroughly as possible for this MotoGP season."

Somkiat seeks to use the Sepang Winter Test as a litmus test for his readiness to navigate the intense competition in MotoGP, setting the stage for his historic debut in the 2025 season with LCR Honda.

Red Bull support

Somkiat's rookie MotoGP season will also mark his debut as a Red Bull athlete in 2025.

Known for its commitment to providing holistic support to athletes beyond typical brand sponsorships, the European energy drink brand will allow Somkiat to push beyond his limits and unlock his full potential for a remarkable debut performance in the MotoGP.

Aside from working with Red Bull's top nutritionists, physical trainers, and premier mental conditioning team, Somkiat will also have access to elite training programmes and facilities, including access to the renowned Athlete Performance Center (APC) where Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, as well as fellow MotoGP riders Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, and Jack Miller, have previously trained.

Somkiat shared his elation, saying "Having the Red Bull logo on my helmet is an absolute honour -- it's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. This is one of the proudest moments of my life, and I'm incredibly thankful to Red Bull for believing in me and recognising my potential."

He added, "One of the things I'm most looking forward to is visiting the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center (APC) in Austria, which is set to take place between May and July this year.

"I'm confident this experience will help me grow and push my abilities to the next level. Their support has become a major driving force for me, inspiring me to continually improve and live up to the trust they've placed in me."

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