Veda Pratama claims career-best Moto3 runner-up finish

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian rider Veda Ega Pratama secured a career-best second-place finish at the 2026 Moto3 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit on Sunday.

Riding for Honda Team Asia, Veda finished 3.734 seconds behind race winner Maximo Quiles of CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team, according to race results.

Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Alvaro Carpe finished third, 4.184 seconds behind Quiles.

The runner-up finish earned Veda 20 points, lifting him to seventh in the provisional Moto3 standings with 131 points.

Earlier, Veda secured pole position for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, although the Moto3 race was canceled because of bad weather.

His result in Sepang surpassed his previous best, a third-place finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix in March.

Starting eighth on the grid, Veda delivered a promising performance, overtaking several rivals to move into contention for the podium.

During the 15-lap race, he passed several competitors, including Joel Kelso, Matteo Bertelle, Alvaro Carpe, David Almansa, Hakim Danish and Brian Uriarte.

The rider from Gunungkidul in Yogyakarta province attacked from the opening lap, quickly working his way toward the front of the field.

He traded overtakes with Carpe, Almansa and Malaysian rider Hakim Danish in a fiercely contested battle for the podium positions.

As the race entered its closing laps, the fight for second intensified while Quiles continued extending his lead at the front.

Veda briefly dropped to fourth under pressure from Danish and Carpe but fought back, reclaiming second from Carpe on the final lap to secure the runner-up finish.

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Translator: Aldi S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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