Hakim Danish Heads to Motegi in ASEAN Duel for Moto3 Top Seven
Hakim Danish goes to Motegi seventh in Moto3, just one point ahead of Indonesia's Veda Pratama, as Máximo Quiles eyes the title.
Malaysia's Hakim Danish heads to the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi (2–4 October) in the middle of a close fight with Indonesia's Veda Pratama. Only one point separates the two Southeast Asian riders in the 2026 Moto3 World Championship.
At the front, Spain's Máximo Quiles could win the title in Japan.
Moto3 standings after Austria
According to MCNews, the top 10 after round 15 at the Red Bull Ring are:
| Pos | Rider | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Máximo Quiles | 306 |
| 2 | Álvaro Carpe | 175 |
| 3 | David Almansa | 174 |
| 4 | Brian Uriarte | 174 |
| 5 | Marco Morelli | 146 |
| 6 | Valentín Perrone | 118 |
| 7 | Hakim Danish | 101 |
| 8 | Veda Pratama | 100 |
| 9 | Matteo Bertelle | 86 |
| 10 | Adrián Cruces | 73 |
Hakim finished ninth in Austria, one place ahead of Ryusei Yamanaka. Veda crossed the line 13th, which let Hakim move ahead of him in the standings.
The ASEAN duel
The battle for seventh is between two of Southeast Asia's brightest young riders:
- Hakim Danish (Malaysia): riding a KTM for Aeon Credit – MT Helmets – MSi. The 19-year-old from Kuala Terengganu won his first Moto3 race at the Czech Republic Grand Prix this season and also took a podium at Mugello.
- Veda Pratama (Indonesia): a rookie with Honda Team Asia, who has quickly become one of the most talked-about new riders in the class.
The next two races are important for both riders. After Motegi, the series goes to Veda's home race at Mandalika in Indonesia on 11 October. Later, the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang on 1 November will be Hakim's home race in front of Malaysian fans.
Quiles could be champion at Motegi
Quiles has dominated the season and leads by 131 points after winning in Austria. According to MCNews, he can clinch the title in Japan if he leaves Motegi with a lead of at least 150 points over every other rider.
That means Quiles needs to gain at least 19 more points on his nearest rivals during the Motegi weekend. If that happens, the title fight would be over with six rounds to go.
What Hakim needs at Motegi
For Hakim, the goals in Japan are clear:
- Finish strongly: a top-10 result would help him stay ahead of Veda.
- Avoid mistakes: he has retired from two races this season, and Moto3's close packs can make crashes costly.
- Watch the riders ahead: Perrone is 17 points ahead in sixth, so a strong result could put him in the fight for a higher place.
Motegi is a stop-start circuit with heavy braking zones, which can favour riders who are strong on the brakes. It is also a track that Hakim has not raced on in the Moto3 World Championship.
Where to follow
The Japanese Grand Prix runs from 2 to 4 October, the same weekend as F1 at Sepang. Japan is one hour ahead of Malaysia, so Moto3 sessions will be in the morning or early afternoon Malaysian time. Check the official MotoGP website for the final session times.
Key takeaways
- Hakim Danish is seventh in Moto3 with 101 points, one point ahead of Veda Pratama.
- He finished ninth in Austria, while Veda was 13th.
- Máximo Quiles leads by 131 points and can clinch the title at Motegi with a lead of 150 or more.
- Moto3 goes to Indonesia next, then to Malaysia on 1 November.
FAQ
Where is Hakim Danish in the Moto3 standings? Seventh with 101 points after the Austrian Grand Prix, one point ahead of Veda Pratama.
Can Máximo Quiles win the title at Motegi? Yes, if he leaves Japan with a lead of at least 150 points over every other rider.
When is the Moto3 race at Sepang? The Malaysian Grand Prix is on 1 November 2026.
Sources: MCNews, Wikipedia, MotoGP.com, Honda Racing