KUALA LUMPUR: Rookie Khairul Idham Pawi missed out on notching a third podium finish in Moto3 this season after crashing out late in the race at the Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix today.
The Honda Team Asia rider put in another impressive ride in the rain, working his way up from 28th on the grid at the Brno Circuit to third and then second by the 13th lap after runaway leader Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) of South Africa crashed at turn one.
Khairul rode aggressively as he tried to chase down eventual winner John McPhee (Peugeot MC Saxoprint) of Scotland, who won in 45:36.087s, but ended up high-siding at the same corner Binder lost control and was forced to retire with five laps remaining.
The Perak-born's wet weather prowess is well known now, having clinched victory in the rain at the Argentina and German rounds, where he started from seventh and 20th respectively.
Honda teammate Hiroki Ono came in 20th, a distant 1:27.997s behind McPhee while fellow rookie Adam Norrodin (Drive M7 SIC Racing Team) crashed out of his fifth race this season, losing control at turn 10 with 10 laps to go.
SIC's Jakub Korfeil ended his home GP in sixth (+15.533s).
The Moto2 race witnessed Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah, who started from 13th, doing well to move up to fourth in the first lap but found it hard to hold on to his position as he battled with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia's Takaaki Nakagami and Leopard Racing's Danny Kent (England).
The Petronas Raceline rider eventually crossed the line a respectable sixth, 24.247s behind race winner Jonas Folger (Dynavolt Intact GP) who clinched victory in 45:30.342s. It is Hafizh's seventh top 10 finish this season.
The next round of the series will be held at Silverstone on Sep 4.