Veda Ega vs Hakim Danish: Malaysian Rider Chases Moto3 Pole Position on His Home Turf

AEON Credit-MT Helmets-MSI rider Hakim Danish has the opportunity to showcase his full ability at the 2026 Moto3 Malaysia. Competing as the home rider at Sepang International Circuit, the 19-year-old is targeting Pole Position while aiming to deliver a proud performance in front of the Malaysian public.

The Malaysian rider got his Weekend off to a promising start. During Friday practice on 30 October, Hakim recorded a lap time of 2 minutes 11.573 seconds to finish 4th. He was only 0.146 seconds behind the fastest rider of the session, David Almansa.

This result automatically secured Hakim a direct pass to the Second Qualifying session (Q2). He will not need to compete in Q1, and can immediately battle for the best starting grid positions alongside the other top fastest riders.

Hakim showed further improvement during FP2 on Saturday 31 October. He finished 6th with a lap time of 2 minutes 11.426 seconds, an improvement over his practice result from the previous day.

In that session, Hakim finished two places ahead of Veda Ega Pratama. The Indonesian rider from Honda Team Asia finished 8th with a time of 2 minutes 11.503 seconds.

Even so, Hakim is not fully satisfied with his motorcycle's performance. Tyre grip issues, especially when navigating high-speed corners, remain an outstanding issue to resolve before qualifying.

Speaking in an interview with Utusan Malaysia on Saturday morning, Hakim openly stated his ambition to claim pole position.

“For the front grid, I am definitely targeting pole position. But if it does not fall my way, I will just keep working hard,” he said.

Hakim confirmed he is regaining his confidence, after struggling with form over the previous two or three championship rounds.

“Today I have found my rhythm again,” he added.

Home Crowd Support As Extra Motivation

His status as the home rider brings unique motivation for Hakim. He expressed joy to be racing once again in front of Malaysian supporters, including his own family who are attending live at Sepang Circuit.

According to reports from Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Hakim spoke of his excitement for this home Grand Prix, but noted he still needs to improve his speed and consistency ahead of the main race.

“Of course I am extremely happy to be back racing this Home GP in front of all Malaysian people and my family. My performance and feel with the bike is getting better, but I know I still need to improve my race pace for Sunday's grand prix,” Hakim told RTM.

He also explained that the grip issues have forced him to adjust his riding style, particularly when entering corners.

“During practice today I struggled quite a lot with tyre grip. I tried to adjust my riding style slightly, especially through the corners, to try and get better traction,” he said.

This issue is also a priority for SIC Racing team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin. He stated the team will refine the motorcycle setup, particularly for the rear tyre, to give Hakim stronger consistent race pace.

Zulfahmi praised Hakim's calm approach throughout the practice sessions, but reminded that strong practice lap times do not guarantee good results once the actual race begins.

Momentum From Two Podiums In Debut Season

Hakim is not just a young home rider relying on crowd support. He has already proven his ability to compete at world championship level during his first full season as a regular Moto3 rider.

Reports from Bernama and Utusan Malaysia confirm Hakim has already scored two podium finishes in the 2026 season, including results at Mugello Italy and Brno, Czech Republic. He has also already claimed a race victory in this debut world championship campaign.

This experience is valuable preparation for the Terengganu-born rider as he handles the pressure of the Sepang home round. Hakim currently sits 9th in the provisional Moto3 Standings with 103 championship points.

This makes the upcoming Malaysian GP a critical event for him. Scoring points on home soil will allow him to climb the championship order, and end his impressive debut season on an even higher note.

Hakim is not fixated solely on the pole position target. He acknowledges that Moto3 competition is extremely tight, and he will continue working closely with his team to dial in the optimal motorcycle setup.

Qualifying will be the next opportunity for Hakim to prove his speed. With the Sepang crowd behind him, a direct pass into Q2, and positive momentum from FP2, the Malaysian rider has all the foundations to fight at the front of the field.

However, the real challenge will come on Sunday 1 November during the grand prix itself. Hakim will need to convert his practice speed into consistent performance across all 15 race laps if he wants to turn his dreams of a home podium, or even a home victory, into reality.