Winning two Moto3 races not due to luck - Khairul Idham Pawi

Winning two World Motorcycle Grand Prix Moto3 races in a debut season has nothing to do with luck says Malaysia's latest racing sensation Khairul Idham Pawi.

Khairul Idham, only 17, a debutant in the World MotoGP, has not won one but two races against seasoned World class campaigners and that certainly cannot be attributed to luck but sheer hard work and perseverance.

The Batu Gajah, Perak-born lad also known as KIP (in short for his full name), has been touted as wet race expert after winning the Argentina Grand Prix and German Grand Prix, both classified as wet races.

"Winning on any surface, be it dry or wet, is not easy...I had to work very hard for both wins...and I am thankful to god," he told reporters after arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Dubai, last night.

Upon arrival, Khairul Idham was greeted by family members and about 100 fans, who displayed banners and posters of their new racing idol.

Khairul Idham first took the world by surprise by winning the Argentina GP in April and followed up that superb feat by winning the German GP on July 17, to announce his arrival on the world motorcycle racing stage.

Speaking to reporters later, Khairul Idham thanked the Youth and Sports Ministry for approving an allocation of RM100,000 to launch his career since participation in the World Motorcycle GP can be an expensive affair.

His father Pawi, 52, had lamented on the lack of financial support to help the career development of his son after winning the German Moto3 Grand Prix, especially covering the cost for Khairul Idham's escort officers and that they had to fork out their own money.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin however, said an initial allocation of RM100,000 was approved last year to help Moto3 national rider Khairul Idham in his career.

However, the allocation could not be delivered to Khairul Idham after the 17-year-old had failed to provide his account number and several documents as required.

"I have the copy of letter from the National Department of Youth and Sports, dated June 24, which was sent to Khairul Idham regarding the approval of RM100,000 allocation as promised before this.

"In the letter, we have asked particulars including a bank account under Khairul Idham's name. Instead, he gave a bank account under his father's name, Pawi Omar and the documents submitted were incomplete," Khairy had said.

The Perak state government had also offered an allocation of RM100,000 to Khairul Idham after winning the Argentina GP.