Khairul Idham Pawi is a pilot from Malaysia who has the ability to surprise everyone. Anonymous in a Moto3 peloton that he only discovered in 2015, he reveals himself from the first drops of rain that fall on the track. It is then an amphibian predator that emerges, having fun literally circling around its adversaries. A demonstration seen twice in 2016, in Argentina and in Germany, from which we were able know the secret. Once dry, it fits into the row. A mystery that Tadayuki Okada decided to clarify by giving him a chance in Moto2.
The Japanese boss of the Idemitsu team therefore bet on the Malaysian Pawi to be the teammate of Nakagami in preparation for the 2017 Moto2 exercise. An ascent that two victories won in the rain have legitimized. Sure, but, Pawi was mostly absent from Moto3 when track conditions were, let's say, normal. A big gap in performance, depending on the weather conditions, which perhaps makes the 18-year-old driver more of a curiosity than a genuine hope.
Okada therefore embarked on quite a challenge. Moreover, he is the first to recognize it. On speedweek, He specifies : " I don't really know what I should expect from Khairul this season. But in the rain, it could well cause a surprise. If he can repeat in Moto2 what he did in these conditions in Moto3, then he will certainly achieve good results. ».
Certainly, but then? Rest assured, the Japanese, a former Honda driver from the days of the 500, has firmly taken charge: “ he will have to give the best of himself physically and mentally, but in the most correct way. This will be essential to make the transition from Moto3 to Moto2. I rode with him in Dirt Track and Supermoto, and although I saw good performances, he was not faster than me. ».
Training Okada will therefore be without indulgence: “ since he signed with us, he trains privately at home, he rides a lot. Mentally he is very, very strong and he is built like a bodybuilder. He has really good muscles. He's still young, but he has what it takes to move up the ranks. He is always in a good mood and is a good companion. ».
« The transition from Moto3 to Moto2 will not be easy. I ran it as many times as possible during testing. A hundred rounds per day. Of course, he was tired at the end, but I told him that he had to continue like this because it was important for him, both physically and mentally. This is my way of seeing things, the right method for a young rider to familiarize himself as quickly as possible with Moto2 ».
He finishes : " I didn't give him any particular objectives for this first season. He needs to learn how to ride his motorcycle well and build his confidence. Once this is achieved, the results will come by themselves ».
It will be recalled that his most experienced teammate Nakagami has declared himself a title contender with a view to moving up to MotoGP in 2018.
