Veda Ega Faces Mixed Results in Brazil Moto3 Practice, Eyes Qualifying Push

Goiania, Brazil – Indonesian rider Veda Ega Pratama finished 12th in the second free practice (FP2) session for the 2026 Moto3 Brazilian Grand Prix at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna on Saturday, a session disrupted by a red flag incident. The promising young talent is now focused on securing a strong starting position in qualifying later today.

The FP2 session was halted due to a series of crashes involving multiple riders. Spanish KTM rider Alvaro Carpe suffered a highside, followed by incidents involving Leo Rammerstorfer and Cormac Buchanan. Prior to the red flag, Italian rider Guido Pini also fell on the second turn at the beginning of the practice session.

Red Flag Interrupts Practice, Almansa Sets the Pace

Despite the interruptions, David Almansa of KTM Spain ultimately topped the FP2 timesheets with a fastest lap of 1 minute 27.308 seconds. Joel Kelso and Valentin Perrone rounded out the top three, with Adrian Fernandez and Marco Morelli completing the top five.

Veda Ega Pratama’s FP2 result came after a strong showing in FP1, where he finished eighth. He had also demonstrated impressive pace during earlier practice sessions, even briefly holding a position within the top three.

The 17-year-old rider, who impressed on his debut at the Thailand Grand Prix earlier this month, is eager to translate his potential into a competitive qualifying performance. The qualifying session is scheduled to begin at 23:10 local time (UTC -3) with Q2 continuing on Sunday morning.

Building Momentum After Thailand Debut

Veda Ega’s performance in Thailand, where he finished fifth in his first Moto3 race, immediately marked him as a rider to watch. His ability to quickly adapt to the demands of the Moto3 class, finishing eighth in free practice and securing fifth on the starting grid at Buriram, generated significant excitement among fans and within the Honda Team Asia paddock.

The Brazilian Grand Prix presents a new challenge for all riders, as the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna is a new addition to the Moto3 calendar. Veda Ega expressed his enthusiasm for the track, noting its intriguing layout. “I’m really looking forward to the race in Brazil. It’s a new track for all the riders, and when I looked at the layout on video, it looked very intriguing and fun to race on,” he said in a statement released by Honda Team Asia on Friday.

He added, “That makes the weekend exciting because we all need to learn the characteristics of the circuit quickly and uncover the best route.”

FP2 Results: Moto3 Brazil 2026

1. David Almansa
2. Joel Kelso
3. Valentin Perrone
4. Adrian Fernandez
5. Marco Morelli
6. Maximo Quiles
7. Adrian Cruces
8. Guido Pini
9. Cormac Buchanan
10. Casey O’Gorman
11. Rico Salmela
12. Veda Ega Pratama

Veda Ega will be looking to build on his early promise and secure a favorable starting position for Sunday’s race. The qualifying sessions will be crucial in determining his chances of challenging for a podium finish at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna.

The Moto3 Brazilian Grand Prix represents a significant opportunity for Veda Ega to continue his impressive start to the 2026 season and establish himself as a frontrunner in the competitive Moto3 championship.

Next up for Veda Ega is the qualifying session tonight, where he will aim to translate his practice pace into a strong grid position for tomorrow’s race. Fans can follow the action live on official MotoGP channels.