Veda Ega Pratama: I want to be the first Indonesian rider in MotoGP and become world champion.
The Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, witnessed a new chapter in the history of Indonesian motorcycle racing. In the opening round of the 2026 Moto3 season on Sunday (March 1), talented young rider Veda Ega Pratama officially made his competitive debut at the Grand Prix level.
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Not only did he compete, but the teenager from Gunungkidul also made an immediate impact by finishing in fifth place, the highest achievement ever by an Indonesian rider in the Moto3 class.
This result was not just beginner’s luck. Throughout the grueling 19 laps, Veda proved that he was not just any rookie, but a serious contender ready to shake up the senior Moto3 riders from Europe.
There might have been doubts about whether the youngster from Gunung kidul would falter on the grand stage of the Grand Prix. However, his performance since Friday (February 27) answered those doubts.
Playing for Honda Team Asia, Veda began the weekend with a very methodical approach. In Free Practice 1 (FP1), he recorded a time of 1 minute 41.854 seconds, placing him in sixth place. Veda’s sharpness became even more apparent in the following session, where he improved his time to 1 minute 41.508 seconds.
This consistency was key to his success in securing a direct ticket to the second qualifying round (Q2) without having to go through the risky Q1.
The climax came in the Q2 session on Saturday (February 28th). Veda had a strong start, finishing third. Although the competition heated up in the final minutes, he managed to secure a best time of 1 minute 40.877 seconds.
This result placed him fifth on the grid, just 0.789 seconds behind pole position winner David Almansa. Starting from the second row on his debut was a clear message to his rivals.
When the green light came on Sunday afternoon, his mental pressure was truly tested. Veda struggled in the early laps, a common occurrence for a rookie facing the aggression of dozens of senior riders. He dropped to seventh place.
However, this is where Veda excelled. Instead of panicking, he demonstrated exceptional tire management and pace control.
Entering the seventh and ninth laps, the 17-year-old executed a series of clinical overtaking maneuvers in Buriram’s tight corners. He re-entered the lead group, competing closely with big names like Alvaro Carpe and Adrian Fernandez.
Veda skillfully navigated the duels on Buriram’s famous straights, which demand a perfect slipstream. He had several tastes of third place (podium spot). However, experience spoke volumes in the final laps. David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) emerged victorious with a time of 32 minutes, 14.186 seconds, followed by Maximo Quiles, who finished just 0.003 seconds behind.
Veda ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth place, 9.687 seconds behind the winner. Although he failed to reach the podium, the 11 points he earned in the opening race are a significant boost to his world championship standings.
Not an instant result
Veda’s success in Buriram wasn’t an instant result. Behind that debut was a decades-long process that he had been going through since childhood.
His strongest foundation was laid in 2025. As the runner-up in the 2025 Red Bull Rookies Cup with a total of 181 points and three wins (two at Mugello, one at Sachsenring), Veda was already accustomed to the characteristics and high-pressure nature of European circuits.
Technically, Veda possesses an aggressive yet measured riding style. In Buriram, he demonstrated his ability to maintain stability under hard braking, a strength he had developed since his time in the Asia Talent Cup.
His narrow defeat to the podium finisher this time was purely due to his experience in the Moto3 class, which uses a different engine than the Rookies Cup bikes. However, in terms of pure speed, Veda is already on par with the world’s top five.
Veda’s impressive performance in the 2025 Rookies Cup has not escaped the attention of even the top team officials. Veda’s name is now the talk of the MotoGP paddock. Gresini Racing Marketing and Commercial Director Carlo Merlini openly called Veda the strongest Asian talent currently.
Even MotoGP racer Alex Marquez made a spontaneous statement about Veda’s talent. Interestingly, there are rumors circulating about a personal closeness between Veda’s management and Gresini, given that Merlini’s son is reportedly Veda’s personal assistant.
Is this a sign that Veda is a future asset who will be “hijacked” by the Ducati or Gresini family in the future? Time will tell.
Footsteps from Gunungkidul
Looking back, Veda’s career journey is clear evidence of a healthy development process. Directly mentored by his father, Sudarmono, a former national racer, Veda has been familiar with circuits since the age of six.
“It all started when I was six years old. I loved racing because I often watched my father practice and race,” Veda said.
Veda’s first training track was the parking lot of the Siyonoharjo Animal Market in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. He was trained directly by his father.
Veda started with national-level races, then gradually moved up to the next level. His career took a significant turn in 2023 when he won the Asia Talent Cup with nine wins out of 12 races, becoming the first Indonesian rider to win the title. He described this success as the greatest achievement of his early career.
In 2024, Veda competed in his first Red Bull Rookies Cup competition, finishing eighth. In 2025, Veda finished as runner-up in the same competition with a total of 181 points. He recorded three wins, two at Mugello and one at the Sachsenring, and six podiums throughout the season.
His consistency made him the only rider capable of putting regular pressure on championship leader Brian Uriarte. The final gap between the two reached 55 points, with Veda holding a 10-point lead over Hakim Danish, who finished third in the 2025 Red Bull Rookies Cup.
His performance in the Rookies Cup was a major factor in Veda’s promotion to Moto3 for the 2026 season.
In an interview, Veda once revealed his ambition:
“I want to be the first Indonesian rider in MotoGP and become world champion.”
Veda Ega Pratama’s Career Journey
2016
Top 4 National Motocross 50cc (Indonesia)
2017
Top 15 National Motocross 65cc (Indonesia)
2018
- Honda Dream Cup Champion – Honda Sonic 150R (Indonesia)
- Motoprix Championship Champion – Honda Sonic 150R (Indonesia)
- Top 15 Motoprix MP6 – Honda Blade 125
2019
- One Prix Championship Beginner Class Champion – Honda Sonic 150R
- Honda Dream Cup Rookie Class Champion – Honda Sonic 150R
- Astra Honda Racing School Champion – Honda NSF 100
2021
- Top 10 Indonesian One Prix – Honda Supra GTR150
- Asia Talent Cup (Wild Card, Top 10)
2022
- Indonesian One Prix Rookie Class Champion – Honda Supra GTR150
- 3rd in the Asia Talent Cup – 3 wins
2023
- Asia Talent Cup Champion – 9 wins from 12 races
- 3rd in the Asia Road Racing Championship – Honda CBR250RR
2024
8th in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
2025
- Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Runner-up (181 points)
- 10th in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship
2026
Moto3 debut with Honda Team Asia – finished fifth in the opening round in Buriram, Thailand