Veda Ega Pratama (born 23rd November 2008, Wonosari, Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia) is a 17-year-old Indonesian rider currently competing in the 2026 Moto3 World Championship with Honda Team Asia.

Previously wearing the number 54 on the Road to MotoGP, he now carries the racing number 9 in Moto3 and he has already made a big impact this season, becoming the first ever Indonesian to feature on a Grand Prix podium, in third place at the Grand Prix of Brazil.

The talent he demonstrated that day is already making Pratama one of the most culturally significant figures in Indonesian sport. His journey from a small town in Yogyakarta, through the Asia Talent Cup, to a Moto3 World Championship podium as a teenager, has already made him a true rising star nationally and internationally.

Furthermore, there appears to be plenty more excitement and glory ahead for Pratama, whose Grand Prix career is only just getting started.

Watch: Veda Pratama reflects on his historic Moto3 podium at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix.

From Gunungkidul to the world stage: Veda Pratama's early life

Pratama originally comes from Wonosari, in the Gunungkidul regency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, an area not especially known for motorsport talent - yet! But Pratama was inspired and encouraged by his father Sudarmono, himself a former motorcycle racer who competed in the Indonesian National Supersport 600 Championship.

Pratama started riding on minibikes at age five and by the time he was six he was already racing competitively. By 2019, aged just 10, he had already won the Indonesian National Club Underbone Race Championship.

This was an early sign of his potential to become one of Indonesian motorcycle racing’s stars of the future.

In addition to his father, Pratama is also inspired by his idol Casey Stoner, the MotoGP Legend, Hall of Fame member and MotoGP World Champion in 2007 and 2011. Pratama cites the Australian star as his favourite ever rider.

When he is not racing motorcycles Pratama likes to relax by going fishing or keeping in shape by training on his bicycle.

At the racetrack, meanwhile, it’s 100% business time for Pratama, whose ultimate goals in racing are absolutely clear. "I want to be the first Indonesian MotoGP rider and become World Champion," says the young Honda prodigy.

Check out our Veda Pratama fact file:

The Road to MotoGP: Pratama’s rise to become Moto4 Asia champion

Having impressed at the national level in Indonesia at such a young age, Pratama was invited as a wildcard entry to compete in the 2021 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup at Mandalika, giving him his first international racing exposure.

The Asia Talent Cup (now titled the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup) is MotoGP’s flagship Asian junior series, designed to discover and develop the next generation of Asian racing talent.

Previous alumni include current MotoGP star Ai Ogura of Japan and Somkiat Chantra, the Thai rider who rode in MotoGP in 2025 and now competes in WorldSBK.

Pratama made significant and rapid progress in the Asia Talent Cup, finishing third in his first full season in 2022, before dominating the competition in 2023, winning 9 out of 12 races to become the first Indonesian rider ever to win the Asia Talent Cup title.

At the time he commented, “My greatest achievement so far is the Asia Talent Cup title because I was the first Indonesian champion in the competition. My best race was at Round 5 in Malaysia as I was able to secure the championship title there.”

After clinching the title with that win at Sepang his success directly earned him promotion to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Pratama in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Indonesia's first race winner

Pratama’s Asia Talent Cup dominance caught the attention of the entire Grand Prix paddock, with his next logical step on the Road to MotoGP being Europe and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

One of the most competitive junior series in the world, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup sees riders race on identical KTM machinery in front of large crowds at major Grand Prix events, meaning results reflect pure talent, in the spotlight and under big pressure.

In his first year in the series in 2024 Pratama finished eighth overall, a solid debut. In 2025 things would be different, as he transformed into a race winner. After taking his maiden Rookies Cup victory at Mugello in Italy, he immediately followed up with a second win at the same circuit and a third win at the Sachsenring in Germany.

That first victory at Mugello was a key milestone for Pratama and his nation, as he became the first Indonesian rider ever to win a race in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The Indonesian national anthem therefore played at a European Grand Prix weekend for the first time, a proud moment for Indonesian racing fans worldwide.

The only rider capable of consistently challenging eventual champion Brian Uriarte, Pratama ended the season as 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup runner-up with 181 points, six podiums, and seven top four finishes. He also participated in the JuniorGP World Championship, finishing 10th overall, adding to his growing experience at top Grand Prix and international venues.

At the end of 2025, as Pratama stepped onto the stage at the FIM MotoGP Awards in Valencia, in recognition of his Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup runner-up result, he became the first Indonesian rider ever to attend and receive an award at the ceremony.

Pratama’s Moto3 debut and making history: Thailand and Brazil 2026

Now truly ready to shine on the international stage, Pratama has continued to impress during his first Grand Prix appearances as a Moto3 rookie in 2026.

Making his Moto3 debut at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram at the Grand Prix of Thailand, he went straight into Q2 and secured fifth place on the grid, an impressive qualifying result for a newcomer to the class.

During his first Grand Prix race, Pratama fought in the podium group for much of the 19 laps and finished fifth, the highest ever result for an Indonesian rider in the Moto3 category at the time.

Reactions in the paddock were immediately notable, with Carlo Merlini, Marketing Director of Gresini Racing, calling Pratama “the strongest Asian talent currently”, whilst 2025 MotoGP runner up Alex Marquez spontaneously mentioned the Indonesian youngster's talent to media.

At the second round of the 2026 season, the Grand Prix of Brazil, Pratama qualified strongly again, in fourth place on the grid. A red flag was shown mid-race in Moto3 after a crash involving other riders.

At the restart, Pratama regrouped and fought back through the pack. In the final four laps, he charged from seventh to third, making the crucial overtaking move into the final rostrum position on the last lap. A historic first ever Grand Prix podium for an Indonesian rider was his to cherish.

In his post-race interview he enthused: “I finally finished in the top three in my second Grand Prix race weekend. The team did a really good job so everything went smoothly. I'm really proud of the result in Brazil, my biggest achievement so far. I want to say thank you so much to all the Indonesian people, all my sponsors and my family watching from Indonesia. I wouldn’t have been able to get here without them. So thank you very much to everyone who has supported me.”

“Before the red flag, I was trying to manage my tyres because at this circuit the tyre grip drops quite quickly and the tyres wear out fast. So I tried to stay calm, but in the end I struggled and lost a few positions. However, after the red flag, I had new tyres and I tried to push because there were only five laps left. So I pushed hard and finally I was able to finish in third place. It's incredible.”

Watch: Veda Pratama's sensational Moto3 debut in Thailand — the ride that announced a new star.

What makes Veda Pratama so special: riding style and technical strengths

For fans who wish to understand why Pratama is not just a hugely popular face but a genuinely elite racing talent, let’s run through some of his key technical strengths:

• He consistently demonstrates exceptional stability under hard braking - a trait developed during his Asia Talent Cup years
• Pratama possesses an aggressive overtaking instinct - evidenced by his last-lap podium charge in Brazil
• Quick circuit adaptation - he had never raced at Buriram in the World Championship context yet was immediately among the front-runners in Thailand
• Mental resilience - dropped to 10th in Brazil mid-race, he still finished on the podium

Indonesia's MotoGP dream: the bigger picture for Pratama

Indonesia is one of the world's largest motorcycle markets, with vast numbers of bike riders and passionate racing fans amongst its population of more than 270 million citizens. The Pertamina Mandalika Circuit in Lombok hosts MotoGP and has been a vital resource for developing Indonesian talent.

Following the path of his compatriots in the smaller Grand Prix classes, Pratama’s ambition and the dream of his nation is for him to go a few crucial steps further, into the top echelons of the premier class. From there, the sky’s the limit.

Pratama’s countryman Mario Suryo Aji raced two seasons in Moto3 with a best finish of 12th, then moved to Moto2. Pratama’s path has been different, ascending to the podium in just his second World Championship race.

The Indonesian motorcycle community and the nation broadly therefore see him as the realistic candidate to become the first Indonesian premier class MotoGP rider, if he can continue to make the same significant steps forward in his career.

Veda Pratama in 2026: what to expect this season

After two rounds, Pratama sat third in the 2026 Moto3 World Championship standings with 27 points, and was third again after Mugello, Round 7. 

Pratama studies circuits which are new to him via the MotoGP video game and by reviewing race footage before arriving. He is methodical, not just fast and fans will keep a close eye on him during the 2026 season.

With the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika Circuit approaching later in the year, Veda Pratama's homecoming race promises to be one of the most emotionally charged and highly anticipated moments in recent Moto3 history.

Tracking Pratama’s Grand Prix progress

At 17, with a Grand Prix podium already on his résumé and a home race to come, Veda Pratama is not just one of the most exciting stories in Moto3, he is now writing a chapter in Indonesian sporting history.

Follow his journey and check out all his results via Pratama’s official motogp.com rider profile page.

Q: Who is Veda Pratama?
A: Veda Ega Pratama is an Indonesian professional motorcycle racer competing in the 2026 Moto3 World Championship with Honda Team Asia. Born on 23 November 2008 in Wonosari, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, he is one of the most exciting young talents in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. He is the 2023 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup champion and 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup runner-up.

Q: How old is Veda Pratama?
A: Veda Pratama was just 17 years old at the start of the 2026 Moto3 World Championship season.

Q: What team does Veda Pratama ride for?
A: Veda Pratama races for Honda Team Asia in the Moto3 World Championship. He is teammates with Zen Mitani, who is Japanese. The team has a strong history of developing Asian talent in Grand Prix racing.

Q: What is Veda Pratama's best result in Moto3?
A: As of the third race of the 2026 season, Veda Pratama's best Grand Prix result was a third-place finish (podium) at the Moto3 race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22 March 2026. This made him the first Indonesian rider in history to finish on the podium in a Grand Prix race.

Q: Is Veda Pratama the first Indonesian in MotoGP?
A: Veda Pratama is not the first Indonesian to race in the Grand Prix World Championship as Mario Suryo Aji and Doni Tata Pradita raced before him. However, he is the first Indonesian rider to stand on a Grand Prix podium. He is widely considered Indonesia's best prospect for a future MotoGP premier class career.

Q: Where is Veda Pratama from?
A: Veda Pratama is from Wonosari, in the Gunungkidul regency of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. His father, Sudarmono, was a former national motorcycle racer who inspired Veda's passion for the sport from a very young age.