After sustaining arm injuries in preseason, Somkiat Chantra is aiming for a round two return to racing in his rookie WorldSBK season.

Chantra’s replacement for the opening WorldSBK round has already been confirmed as Tetsuta Nagashima after the Thai rider underwent surgeries on both arms after a crash at Sepang in January.

But Chantra thinks he will be able to return to racing at round two in Portimao.

“Like everyone knows, I broke my arm and the doctor said to me ‘Better to don’t go to round one and try to be [at] round two,” Chantra said in a video posted to the Honda HRC YouTube channel.

“I hope to be at race two because now I miss all the team a lot and I want to come back on the bike also. I will do my best to come back at round two.”

Chantra also said, in a HRC press release, that his recovery is “progressing well”.

“My recovery is progressing well and I’m happy with how things are going post-surgery,” he said.

“Being able to remove the protection and stitches quite quickly was a positive step, though I still need time before I can ride again. For now, the focus is on calmly continuing my recovery and making sure I’m fully ready before getting back on the bike. 

“I really enjoyed my first time with the Honda HRC team during last November’s Jerez test. From the moment I entered the garage, I felt welcome and the atmosphere immediately felt like a family. 

“Joining a Honda factory team is a big step and a very important project for me, and it meant a lot that the team made me feel relaxed and comfortable right away. 

“From a technical standpoint, I had already ridden the standard CBR1000RR-R for training purposes. Testing the WorldSBK version was a different experience, but the feeling was immediately positive. 

“During the test I focused on learning and understanding the bike step by step, working closely with the team to identify areas where I need to improve - my riding style when braking and shifting for example. 

“Even during this period, I’ve stayed in close contact with the team, with Mori-san [Yuji Mori, Honda HRC Team Manager] and with my crew chief, [Tetsuya] Sasaki, updating them on my recovery. 

“I’m obviously disappointed not to be able to race at the opening round, but following the doctors’ advice is the right thing to do. I miss the team and am fully focused on doing all I can to return as soon as possible. I’d like to thank everyone at Honda HRC for their support, and I’m really looking forward to returning and contributing to the team’s progress.”