Somkiat Chantra made his first laps in MotoGP during the official Barcelona Test, as did the other rookies of the 2025 season, Fermín Aldeguer and Ai Ogura. The opportunity for Johann Zarco's future teammate to deliver his first impressions, during what was also his first debriefing in front of the media as a driver in the premier category.
Three rookies showed up for the Official Test in Barcelona on Tuesday, and all experienced their first fall during the seven hours of driving that made up the day. The now ex-Moto2 riders had work to do during this first opportunity to ride a MotoGP, before diving into a full season aboard these machines.
MotoGP and Moto2 do not, in fact, use the same type of brakes, gearboxes, like many other parts. Even more simply, the two categories are not equipped with the same tire manufacturer.
“It was my first day in MotoGP, and I was trying to figure out everything with the carbon brakes,
confided the future LCR Honda driver on Tuesday evening.
I was also learning things about tires which are different from Moto2. We use Michelin tires here (And not Pirelli. Editor’s note). My team always tells me to be careful on the left side, because the tire cools down very quickly in a straight line. I was also trying to learn how to deal with erasers. »
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For all these reasons, the Thai was extremely apprehensive about this day, wishing not to disappoint those who chose to trust him during the month of August, the period when the negotiations ended.
“I was quite nervous before getting on the bike,
he continues. I almost had a heart attack. And when I was on it, I was like, 'Okay, now we're trying to learn how she behaves.' On the launch lap I said to myself, 'Be a little calm on the brakes and the gas'. At the last turn, I tried to push them hard. It was okay but when braking, the bike was super fast. Lap after lap, it got better. »
Somkiat Chantra also makes no secret of the fact that intense physical preparation will be necessary this winter, in order to meet the level of demands of MotoGP. “Now it's the winter break, and I'm going to have to train physically, to be ready for what's next. »
