Why LCR Honda failed to find an injury replacement for Chantra at Austrian MotoGP

LCR Honda has been unable to find a replacement for Somkiat Chantra ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, meaning Johann Zarco will be the team’s only MotoGP rider on the grid.

The Thai rider has been sidelined since early July following a crash during motocross training when he suffered a torn collateral ligament in his right knee, which required surgery, and forced him to miss the German and Czech Republic rounds before the summer break.

After Chantra was examined at the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona by MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte and a knee specialist he was not cleared to race.

Chantra will miss both this weekend’s race in Austria and next weekend’s round in Hungary.

In Brno, the last stop before the summer break, Takaaki Nakagami filled in for him, but the Japanese rider was taken out by Augusto Fernandez in Saturday’s sprint race, suffering a posterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.

With Aleix Espargaro still recovering from a right-hand injury – a thumb ligament tear sustained during a cycling race – LCR’s replacement options quickly dwindled.

The situation worsened after Iker Lecuona, who races for Honda in the World Superbikes, crashed in the Hungarian round of the championship, forcing him to miss the Suzuka 8 Hours as well.

Xavi Vierge, Lecuona’s team-mate in World Superbikes, travelled to Suzuka but was unable to race due to a visa issue, leaving Zarco and Takumi Takahashi as a two-ride team but were still able to win the event.

The Catalan was also considered as a potential stand-in for Chantra at the Red Bull Ring, but his lack of MotoGP experience ultimately ruled him out.

As a result, LCR Honda will line up at Spielberg with only Zarco, despite regulations clearly stating that teams must make every effort to replace an injured rider.

In Hungary, Honda test rider Espargaro will partner the Frenchman.