Historic! Veda Ega Pratama Finishes Second in Malaysian Moto3, Climbs Into Championship Top Seven

Veda Ega Pratama carved a new chapter in Indonesian motorcycle racing history. The Honda Team Asia rider finished second at the 2026 Malaysian Moto3 race at the Sepang Circuit on Sunday (11/1/2026), becoming the first Indonesian rider ever to stand on the second step of a Moto3 podium.

The 15-lap race, which started at 11:00 Western Indonesia Time, was won by Maximo Quiles of the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team in 33:07.634. Veda crossed the finish line about 3.7 seconds behind Quiles, ahead of Alvaro Carpe in third. Home rider Hakim Danish finished fourth.

The result did not come easily. Veda started the race from eighth on the grid after posting a qualifying time of 2:10.861. Throughout the race he was locked in fierce duels with Carpe, Danish, and David Almansa, right down to the final lap. That hard work paid off in full with a historic first second-place podium.

The additional 20 points took Veda's season tally to 131, up from 111 before the race. According to Kompas TV and skor.id, Veda now sits seventh in the provisional 2026 Moto3 standings. It should be noted, however, that several other outlets reported sixth place — the discrepancy arises because points calculations have not yet been uniformly updated across publications.

At the top of the standings, Quiles tightened his grip on the championship with 376 points. The Spanish rider had already sealed the 2026 Moto3 world title at the Mandalika round, making his Sepang victory a further statement of his status as the season's fastest rider.

The Sepang podium was also sweet redemption for Veda after misfortune at the previous round. At the Australian GP at Phillip Island Circuit, he claimed Indonesia's first-ever Moto3 pole position with an impressive 1:35.299. Unfortunately, that race was cancelled due to heavy rain and thick fog that grounded the medical helicopter. A week later at Sepang, Veda finally got the chance to show his full pace.

Across the season, several outlets count this as Veda's third podium of 2026. The two previous podiums were third-place finishes in Brazil and France — noting that the France result came via a post-appeal adjustment by the FIM concerning Adrian Fernandez. Even so, the Malaysian second place is both his best result and the first ever achieved by an Indonesian rider in Moto3 history, a feat singled out by Oto.com.

Veda's strong season had already shown at his home round. At Mandalika on October 11, he finished sixth — the best result among all Honda riders in that race. That consistent form has now borne fruit with the Sepang podium.

With two rounds remaining, Veda's chances of climbing further remain wide open. Next up is the Qatar Moto3 round on November 6–8. The fast, flowing Losail Circuit demands high-speed stability and careful tire management — two things Veda already demonstrated at Sepang. If he can maintain that form, a top-six championship finish is well within reach — the 16-year-old could even close his debut season far higher. It will also be interesting to see how Honda Team Asia uses this momentum in its rider development strategy for next season, given that Veda's performances have become the squad's main talking point.

For Indonesia, Veda's Sepang achievement is more than just a podium. It is proof that Indonesian riders can compete at the front of world motorcycle racing, and a major morale boost for the country's racing development.