Nakagami to Retire from MotoGP at the end of 2024, replaced by Somkiat Chantra

Takaaki Nakagami has opted to retire from MotoGP after seven seasons in the premier class, the Japanese rider will leave at the end of 2024 and will be replaced at LCR Honda by Thai rider, Somkiat Chantra.

Nakagami has had a relatively difficult MotoGP career, and is a rider who often flies under the radar. However, during his time in the premier class, having been with LCR Honda since 2018, Nakagami has achieved a pole position at Aragon in 2020, and has a best championship finishing result of 10th place in the 2020 season after scoring 116 points.

The 32-Year old took to social media to announce the news, saying: “It’s official! I have decided to retire from full-time MotoGP racing at the end of the 2024 season. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the fans who have supported me so much. I would also like to thank Idemitsu Kosan and Honda for their long term support. I will be involved in HRC’s racing bike development from 2025. I am very glad to be able to make use of my 7 years of experience at MotoGP, I’m excited about my new chapter.”

Nakagami will therefore continue to play a crucial role in Honda’s development, but evidently multiple seasons at the back of the grid on the worst bike, have proved to have taken their toll on Nakagami.

Somkiat Chantra will be the rider replacing Nakagami, taking to social media to share his thoughts: “I will be the first Thai rider to join MotoGP, in 2025 with LCR Idemitsu Honda.”

Chantra has had an impressive junior career, taking two wins over the last few seasons in Moto2, and six podiums, finishing 6th in the Moto2 championship last season.

With another seat filled for the 2025 season, the MotoGP grid will be forced to say goodbye to at least two of MotoGP’s most popular riders, Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro at the end of this season.

Featured image: LCR Honda and Takaaki Nakagami