RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Moto3 rider Veda Ega Pratama faces a difficult challenge at the Moto3 Catalunya Grand Prix 2026 after qualifying 21st on the grid at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya following a competitive but unsuccessful Q1 session on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

According to MotoGP records, the Honda Team Asia rider initially showed strong pace in Q1 and briefly raised hopes of progressing into Q2.

Veda even topped the timesheets four minutes into the session after setting the fastest lap, ahead of Guido Pini and Nicola Carraro, Antara reported.

The competition soon intensified when Alvaro Carpe moved into first place with a lap time of one minute 47.382 seconds. Veda briefly held second position before being overtaken by David Munoz and Adrian Cruces.

During the second run, the rider from Gunungkidul remained in contention for a Q2 spot while sitting fourth with three minutes remaining.

However, late improvements from several riders pushed Veda down to seventh place by the end of the session.

The four riders who advanced to Q2 from Q1 were Guido Pini, Alvaro Carpe, David Munoz, and Casey O'Gorman.

As a result, Veda will start Sunday’s Moto3 Catalunya race from 21st position.

The outcome continued a difficult weekend for the Indonesian rider after he finished only 19th in Friday’s practice session, forcing him into Q1 qualification.

Meanwhile, Valentin Perrone of Red Bull KTM Tech3 claimed pole position after posting the fastest Q2 time of one minute 46.679 seconds.

Perrone edged David Munoz by just 0.005 seconds, while Brian Uriarte secured third place, 0.019 seconds behind.

Q2 featured several lead changes in the closing moments. Brian Uriarte briefly led before Marco Morelli and Jesus Rios traded fastest laps.

Perrone ultimately delivered the quickest lap in the final seconds to secure pole position in Barcelona.

Malaysian rider Hakim Danish will start the Catalunya race from 10th position. ***