Things promised, things due! We promised you that we would do our best to interview Khairul Idham Pawi and discover his secret; we did it.
And it was anything but easy! On the one hand, the pilot of “Tadi” Okada himself suffered the disruptions of the Argentina-Texas transfer, with a trip of more than 24 hours, and, on the other hand, it must be recognized that his English is still, let's say... a little less well mastered than his piloting.
But no matter, the talent and the good will are there and, with the help of an interpreter, we were finally able to get a slightly more precise idea of what happened last Sunday in Argentina...
Have you often driven on wet tracks and what is the secret of your confidence in these difficult conditions?
“Indeed, for a good part of the year, it often rains in Malaysia. So this is usual for us. To be honest, I usually don't like these kinds of conditions, half wet, half dry, because it's really easy to make a mistake and crash, but here on Sunday everything was under control thanks to a perfect bike . From the warm-up lap, I immediately felt comfortable on her. She was very healthy, even when she slipped a little. I really had confidence in the bike and felt it very well. So I took my pace, without worrying about the others, trying to keep my concentration from start to finish, and not to make any mistakes. It went well. Really, the bike was good! »
But when you had a few heats, why didn't you slow down, even though you had a 20 second lead?
“Actually, like I told you, I felt really good on the bike. When I slipped, it wasn't skidding where I scared myself because I risked falling, it was more controlled sliding, often controlled with the accelerator. Obviously, with the slick tires it slipped a little more, but it was still controlled, like when you do it on purpose. In fact, when you have confidence in the bike and feel the grip really well, then you have a lot of fun. This is really what happened on Sunday; I drove fast simply because it gave me pleasure! (laughs) »
What are your goals for the upcoming races?
“I will of course continue to work very hard for the next races. My goal is to try to fight with the leading riders in the dry. I am well aware that it will be much more difficult than in the wet, but it is my objective, like that of my entire team, who I really thank for all the support they give me. »
So, here is the secret; pleasure!
When all her little friends probably had to tighten their buttocks a little, the young Malaysian shoot was having fun...
In these conditions, we better understand the gap that appears at the finish and, without wanting to play the birds of ill omen, we can't wait to be at Le Mans!
