Somkiat Chantra’s WorldSBK 2026 Debut in Serious Doubt

Somkiat Chantra of the factory Honda effort faces a significant risk of missing the start of the 2026 WorldSBK season after a training injury proved more serious than initially expected, only weeks before pre-season activity resumes.

Chantra sustained the injury during a training session at Sepang International Circuit while riding a Honda CBR1000RR road bike as part of his preparations for his World Superbike debut. Initial X-rays conducted in Kuala Lumpur confirmed a fracture to his right arm, but further medical assessments after his return to Thailand revealed an additional injury to his left arm, complicating the recovery outlook.

In an official statement, Honda confirmed that Chantra has undergone surgery on both arms and has entered the early stages of rehabilitation. The timing of the injury is particularly critical for a rookie transitioning to Superbike machinery, where pre-season testing mileage is central to understanding tyre behaviour, electronics strategies, and race-distance setup requirements.

“Following further medical examinations after his return to Thailand, Somkiat Chantra successfully underwent surgery on both arms on Saturday, 17 January, at Bangkok Hospital. His right arm has been placed in a cast, while the left arm did not require one,” Honda stated.

“Further updates on Chantra’s recovery timeline will be provided in due course,” the manufacturer added.

With pre-season testing set to resume this week and the opening round scheduled in Australia on 20–22 February, the recovery window places Chantra’s participation in serious doubt. Missing testing would significantly hinder his adaptation to the WorldSBK technical package and compromise early-season competitiveness, especially against established rivals.

Honda does have contingency options should Chantra be unavailable. Six-time world champion Jonathan Rea has joined the manufacturer as an official test rider for 2026, although no confirmation has been given regarding a race substitution. Another alternative could come from Honda’s MotoGP test rider structure, with Takaaki Nakagami bringing prior Superbike experience from the Suzuka 8 Hours.

The uncertainty surrounding Chantra’s availability adds complexity to Honda’s early-season planning. A delayed debut would not only slow the rookie’s learning curve but could also influence the manufacturer’s development priorities during the opening phase of the 2026 WorldSBK campaign.