Khairul Idham Pawi opens up with Palmen in Motorradsport

Khairul Idham Pawi
Jerez 2024.

Versione italiana qui.

After his retirement in 2020, it all seemed over: a young promise that had some exploits, but was stopped by several factors and never expressed fully his potential. But no, it was not the case, as he later came back to racing in Asia and then, in 2024, he returned to the world stage. Who am I talking about? Khairul Idham Pawi, who became a full-time world championship rider again this year by taking part in FIM Supersport World Championship with Petronas MIE Honda Racing Team.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the chance to interview Pawi, as the Malaysian rider opened up on 2024 season, a look back at his days in Moto3 and Moto2 World Championship and more.

 

Khairul, 2024 marked a new chapter in your racing career, as you raced in WorldSSP. What do you think about this season?

It was a difficult season. We struggled with the bike and after the first round we tried to improve it as much as possible. We could make progress, but still not enough to aim for important results.

 

Khairul Idham Pawi
On action in Magny-Cours.

 

In which areas did you need to work in particular?

For me, we mainly had to work on the chassis. Of course with the engine we improved, even if we were still losing a little bit in the bottom power from Yamaha. With Ducati, instead, we just could not compare…

 

What was your goal for the season?

In the second part of the season I was aiming for a point finish after being 15th in Race 1 in Phillip Island, and I finally made it (again 15th in Magny-Cours and Jerez, both in Race 1, ed). We were in the top 20 and it was important to make a little step in our growth.

 

With you, it’s inevitable to think about the wins you scored in Moto3 World Championship in Argentina and Germany, back in 2016.

Already in 2015 I got some podiums in CEV Moto3 and in many races I fought with riders like Joan Mir and Nicolò Bulega. Then I moved to the Moto3 World Championship and in some races I was doing really well also in dry conditions, but I crashed also many times because it was my first year in the category and I didn’t know yet how to manage the tyres and everything. After that, I managed to win two wet races and out of them, the first victory I got was in Argentina and on a half wet, half dry track. It was amazing to win those races and overall the season was good. However, my career became much more difficult afterwards.

 

Khairul Idham Pawi
Victory at the 2016 Argentinian GP.

 

2016 was in general a season of ups and downs, where you finished 19th with 62 points. However, you immediately moved from Moto3 to Moto2. Wasn’t it maybe a bit too early?

The truth is that I was pushing to stay at least one more year in Moto3, with the goal to fight for the front positions at every race and in every conditions, but the team basically said that there was no place for me in Moto3 and I had to go to Moto2. It wasn’t a good idea, also because I was struggling with the arm pump and with other things on which, to be honest, I cannot say much.

 

You struggled in Moto2, then in 2020 you came back to Moto3 and had further struggles, so you ended up deciding to quit racing. How did that decisione come?

In 2019 I was improving with the Moto2, after they moved to Triumph engines, and in the second race in Argentina I was in 13th position, Unfortunately, I crashed and injured the fifth finger of my right hand, and that caused me to miss the entire season. We tried to fix the finger with a surgery, but it didn’t work, so the year after I decided to have it cut. Moreover, in 2020 I was back in Moto3 and again I struggled a lot, as I was much heavier than my rivals, and many things happened with the team. After that season, I understood that I needed to stop, relax and forget about all the stress and things that happened in racing. And that’s what I did.

 

What did you do after retiring? 

I worked in my family’s company, which is specialised in palm oil. 

 

Khairul Idham Pawi
Brno 2019, in Moto2 World Championship.

 

Your break from racing was anyway short, since you returned already in 2021.

I have always loved racing, since I was a kid, and I started to miss that world so much. So I decided to return to the track and restarted from the Malaysian Championship, just to see if I could be fast despite the break. And yes, I won the race…And realized that I still had something to say!

After that, I started to train again for the following year. In 2022 I raced in Asia Road Racing Championship, in the Supersport class, and it went OK (he finished sixth with two podiums, ed). In 2023 I was second in the standings and I lost the championship title only because another rider hit me in the last race.

 

At this stage, what’s your goal for the future?

To be honest, I’m not thinking about next year (though he should be again in WorldSSP with MIE Racing, ed) and for the future I just hope I will still be racing. Let’s say that I just take it day by day and year by year.

 

In conclusion, who do you wanna say “thank you” to for the experiences you had in the past and those you are having now?

I want to thank everybody who helped me before and now and in both good and bad times, but the biggest thank you goes to my father, because without him I would not be racing.

 

Palmen in Motorradsport is grateful to Khairul Idham Pawi for the interview and wishes him all the best for his future.