SEPANG — Malaysian fans eager to see two local riders in action at tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix will have to settle for one.
Khairul Idham Pawi has been ruled out of the race after breaking his left hand and possibly his left foot in a Moto2 qualifying crash today.
The crash was particularly unfortunate for the former Moto2 rider, as he collided with his teammate and fellow wildcard entry, Mohd Helmi Azman, at turn eight on the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). Both riders compete under the MIE Racing RW banner.
According to team manager Razmin Masli Abdul Razak, Helmi received medical clearance to race tomorrow, but Khairul, affectionately known as “SuperKIP,” will have to sit it out.
“Fortunately, Helmi escaped uninjured, so he’ll still be able to compete tomorrow,” Razmin confirmed to reporters today, adding that there would be no replacement for Khairul.
Team owner Midori Moriwaki expressed sympathy, noting that both riders had been eager to race in front of a home crowd.
Despite the challenge of competing against seasoned riders in the Moto2 class, Khairul and Helmi were determined to entertain Malaysian fans.
“They were thrilled when they found out they’d secured wildcard entries for the Malaysian GP,” Moriwaki said.
“They understand the significance as the Malaysia and Petronas flags rested on their shoulders. Competing on Moto2 bikes, especially against experienced season riders, isn’t easy, but they wanted to make the most of this opportunity to showcase their skills.”
She highlighted the pair’s strong efforts in free practice yesterday, with steady progress reflected in their lap times.
Helmi is set to start tomorrow’s race in 29th position after posting a qualifying lap of 2:07.554.
Meanwhile, Jorge Navarro of OnlyFans American Racing Team claimed pole position with a time of 2:04.412, followed closely by teammate Marcos Ramirez (2:04.475) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Celestino Vietti (2:04.559). — November 2, 2024