Not every pre-season MotoGP prediction can come true.

One shout about a rookie who would꧒ face major adversity already l♛ooks like it could fall flat.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Somkiat Chantra was a wo⛎rry for some MotoGP onlookers but ♍he has delivered two respectable rounds to kickstart his first year.

“I tho꧒ught this m🧔an would struggle,” TNT Sports’ Neil Hodgson admitted.

“I thought it might be embarrassing - I thought he could be where 🍰Lorenzo Savadori is, a second off the rider in front of him. 🌞[Savadori] is a replacement rider and that’s how it is - Michele Pirro is an exception.”

Michael Laverty was not so 🌺surprised to see Chantra going well in MotoGP already.

“Ai Ogura ꦿcame in and was immediately on the pace🐻,” Laverty said.

“Chantra has few expectations and is mixing it.

“You can come from Moto2♒ and be on the pace i💯n MotoGP, it’s a relatively straightforward transition these days.”

Hodgs꧂on added: “Chantra lasಞt year, at one point he was struggling to get into the top 10.”

Chantra was 12th overall in Moto2 last year, but was selected by 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:LCR Honda to become the first Thai MotoGP rider.

He has finished 18th in each of the first two ꦫgrands prix of 🍌2025.

But, Chantra is rid🧸ing the bike which was clearly the worst of 2024 so his performances have not disgraced themselves.

Joan Mir ‘back at the sharp end’

The standout Honda rider of 2025 haಌs been LCR’s Johann Zarco.

Zarco qualified third in ꦚArgentina, then record🐎ed finishes of P4 and P6.

But factory Honda rider Jo𒈔an Mir has also caught the eye after two dismal seasons with the manufacturer.

Mir 🦩claimed a pair of top 1🌞0 finishes in Argentina.

“🦩I love to see Mir back at the sh✃arp end of MotoGP,” TNT Sports’ Gavin Emmett said.

Neil Hodgson said: “🍷He’s had some dark days since winning that championship, which feels like a lifetime ago. Think of the crashes he’s had since then.”

Emmett replied: “Suzuki pulled out, he w꧟as forced into a switch to Honda. Since then? We talk to him and Joan i🦹s a friendly chap, he says hello.

“But you ☂feel like there’s nothing there behind the ‘he𝔉llo’.”

Hodgson: “He loo𒁏ked miserable. It’s so understandable. It’s a long season when you’re having a bad time, people are doubting you, you’r🍒e not enjoying it, and you’re face-planting every weekend.”

Honda finally se⛎em to have somethin🦋g to cheer - although it has coincided with the exit of veteran Takaaki Nakagami.

Nakagami lost 🔯his race seat and is now a test rider for Honda.

“The last six seasons he rode a bike which wasn’t com🅠petitive,” Hodgson said.

“He leaves, and Honda make a step!”

Emmett ad🦹ded: “I spoke to Stefan Bradl leaving Thailand🐼. He tells me that he’s pencilled in for tests, as well.

“They have three test riders, and also Nagashima in the background. They are throwing aꦓ lot at it, using the concessions a⭕s best they can.”

Honda can still make use of the MotoGP concession systems to gain a march on the four manufacturers who we𒈔re significantly ahead of 🌄them last year.