The Lusail International Circuit once again hosted the intense battle of the Moto3 class under the iconic floodlights. In the opening Free Practice 1 (FP1) session of the 2026 Qatar Grand Prix, Indonesia’s rising star Veda Ega Pratama delivered an impressive performance, securing a solid sixth position.
Racing for Honda Team Asia, Veda clocked a best lap time of 2:05.125. Despite leading the session during the early stages, the Indonesian rider eventually concluded the practice just 0.982 seconds behind the session leader, Maximo Quiles. This result serves as a strong signal that the rider from Gunungkidul is carrying the momentum from his recent podium finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix into this weekend.
Meanwhile, Maximo Quiles reaffirmed his status as a formidable title contender. The CFMoto Aspar Team rider set a blistering pace of 2:04.143. Although he suffered a highside incident late in the session, Quiles' benchmark time remained untouchable, with Joel Kelso taking second and Marco Morelli rounding out the top three.
For Veda, this sixth-place finish provides a stable foundation for the upcoming, more critical Practice session. "This result is a positive start to our Qatar Moto3 weekend, following the podium success in Malaysia," his camp noted, highlighting the rider's consistent form in the latter half of the 2026 season.
The real challenge for Veda lies in the next Practice, where the top 14 riders will battle for an automatic spot in Qualifying 2 (Q2). With the midfield competition incredibly tight—less than 0.3 seconds separating Veda from the tenth-placed rider—every millisecond will be vital for his progression into the qualifying phase.
The demanding nature of the Lusail track, combined with tire degradation under the desert night sky, represents a significant technical test for these young riders. Veda must now focus on maintaining his race rhythm to ensure he remains a threat at the front of the pack throughout the remainder of the weekend.
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