Not every pre-season MotoGP prediction can come true.

One shout about a rookie who would face major adversity already looks like it could fa💎ll flat.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Somkiat Chantra was a worry for so🐬me MotoGP onlookers but he has delivered two respectable rounds to kickstart𝕴 his first year.

“I thought tꦬhis man 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 exce🔜ption.”

Michael Laverty was not so surprised to see Chantra going w𝐆ell i🦩n MotoGP already.

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

“Chantra has few expectations and is mixing it.

“You can come from Moto2 and b♏e on the pace in MotoGP, it’s a relatively straightforward transition these days.”

Hod꧟gson added: “Chantra last 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 grands pri⛦x of 2025.

But, Chantra is riding the bike which was clearly the worst of 2024 so his perforꦛ💫mances have not disgraced themselves.

Joan Mir ‘back at the sharp end’

The standout Honda rider of 2025 has beeꦐn LCR’s Johann Zarco.

Zarco qualified꧑ third in Argentina, then recorded finishes of P4 and P6.

But factory Honda rider Joan Mir has also caught the eye after two dismꦛal seas🍃ons with the manufacturer.

Mir ꧅claimed a pair of top 10 finish💦es in Argentina.

“I love to see Mir back at the sharp end of MotoGP,” ꩵTNT Sports’ Gavin Emmett said.

Nei🎃l Hodgson said: “He’s had some dark days sin🔯ce winning that championship, which feels like a lifetime ago. Think of the crashes he’s had since then.”

Emmett replied: “Suzuki pulled out, he was 🌞forced into a switch to Honda. Since then? We talk to him and Joan is a friendly chap, he says hello.

“But you feel like there’s nothing there b🌃ehind the ‘hello’.”

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

Honda finally seem to have something to cheer - although it has coincided with the exit of veter꧃an 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 competitive,” Hodgson said.

“He leaves, and Honda make a step!”

Emmꦗet🃏t added: “I spoke to Stefan Bradl leaving Thailand. He tells me that he’s pencilled in for tests, as well.

“They have three test ri꧂ders, and also Nagashima in the backgroun♛d. They are throwing a lot at it, using the concessions as best they can.”

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