Even though he did slip up. Somkiat Chantra's debut in the top class of MotoGP went smoothly. The LCR Honda rider ended the Barcelona test in a 23rd position, with some anxiety about what was laying ahead and the normal critical issues encountered.
"On my first day on a MotoGP bike, I tried to understand how the carbon brakes worked, something new for me, and the Michelin tires, since I was coming from the Pirelli. In particular, the team helped me better understand tire management, since they tend to get cold on the straight," he explained.
It wasn't easy on an emotional level for the Thai rider. "Before the session starte,d I was so nervous I thought I was going to have a heart attack but. when I got on the bike. I just tried to learn its behavior," he revealed. Staying on the subject of sensations, the 25-year-old wanted to share those he felt during his first real acceleration.
"When I came out, I tried to go through the lap calmly, without forcing either braking or the gas. At the last corner, I tried to push harder, and everything seemed normal but, when I braked afterwards, and got back on the gas, the bike seemed really fast. I then slowly I got used to it and steadily improved," he added.
Going from the Moto2 to the MotoGP isn't a walk in the park on a physical level. "I suffered a bit, especially my back. So, during the winter, I'll try to work a lot in the gym," he finally confessed.