KHAIRUL Idham Pawi showed his pedigree as he worked his way to victory on his return to racing at the Malaysia Superbike Championships (MSBK) yesterday.
Khairul, who had not raced since last year's Moto2 World Championship season, qualified fourth from eight riders in race one of the 600cc class at the Sepang Circuit.
The Onexox TKKR Racing Team rider did not have the best of starts but recovered and kept pace with the lead group.
An early crash, which took out pole-sitter Ibrahim Norrodin (SIC Racing) and Azroy Hakeem Anuar (Boon Siew Honda Racing), made it easier for him to progress. Khairul found himself in the lead by the halfway point of the race.
Khairul took the win in 21 minutes and 59.034 seconds.
Syarifuddin Azman (SIC Racing) finished second (0.349s), while Helmi Azman (Boon Siew Honda Racing) settled for third (0.396s).
Khairul was visibly delighted with the result.
"I made a mistake coming off the line because I have not done a race start for so long," said Khairul.
"Once I was in the lead, I just pushed up my pace until the finish. I am quite tired because I have not been doing anything (as physical) for a long time."
Meanwhile, the 1,000cc race witnessed pole-sitter Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin (Yamaha Racing Team Asean) clinching a comfortable win in 21:23.78s with Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Onexox TKKR Racing Team) coming in second (8.915s).
Ahmad Daniel Haiqal (MME Racing Team Malaysia) settled for third (+36.530s).
Izam Ikmal (Boon Siew Honda Racing Team) topped the 250cc race in 20:09.226s, followed by SIC Racing's Danial Syahmi (+0.068s) and Onexox TKKR Racing Team's Shafiq Rasol (+0.156s).
Race two will be held today.