Somkiat Chantra's SBK adventure begins with a forfeit. After his accident while training on the Sepang circuit riding a standard Honda CBR1000RR-R, the former MotoGP rider won't be able to compete in the first round of the World Championship scheduled for February 20th to 22nd in Australia.
Although the time it's taking for him to ecover from his fractured right forearm is progressing well, Tetsuta Nagashima will replace him.
The Thai rider went to Bangkok Hospital on January 28th and, since his physical condition was assessed positively by the doctors, his cast was removed. However, as a precaution, the Honda HRC team preferred not to rush things and found an alternative rider to partner with their official rider, Jake Dixon.
Finally, we'd like to point out that British Honda BSB rider Ryan Vickers will complete the team's line-up at Phillip Island as a wildcard.