Too much hype can be damaging to Khairul and Adam, warns Shahrol

KUALA LUMPUR: Stop the hype!

Former top Malaysian motorcycle rider Shahrol Yuzy has called on the public and media to go easy on 17-year-old teenagers Khairul Idham Pawi and Adam Norrodin following their exploits in the Argentina Grand Prix last weekend.

On Sunday, Khairul produced one of the most incredible performances in Moto3 to win the Argentina Grand Prix – and become Malaysia’s first winner on the world stage.

Not only did Khairul, who is from Kampung Gajah in Perak, win by a 26-second margin, he did it on slicks under mixed weather conditions.

At 17 years 196 days, the Honda Team Asia rider is also the youngest ever non-European to win a Grand Prix race, snatching the record from Australia’s Casey Stoner, who was 18 years 17 days old when he won for the first time in the 125cc class in Valencia in 2003.

SIC Racing Team’s Adam almost made it a one-two finish but he fell at the last turn after charging his way from 17th on the starting grid.

But he won the hearts of millions when he picked himself up and pushed his bike all the way to the finish line for his first world championship points.

Adam, who finished 11th to earn five points, and Khairul have been praised non-stop on social media, but Shahrol hopes they will be given the time and space to develop their talents.

“Don’t forget, this is only their rookie season in Moto3. Khairul has opened the eyes of many with the way he won by such a big gap ... and it’s his first time racing outside Asia,” said Shahrol.

“Every rider racing at this level is good ... it’s just that only 1% of the crop is able to win races.

“It’s important that we do not put too high an expectation on them as the world championship is not just one race.

“We have so many races to come ... and under different conditions.

“We do not want them to be like Zulfahmi (Khairuddin), who was praised sky high after he made the podium, and then torn to pieces after that,” added Shahrol, referring to Zulfahmi, who finished second after starting from pole position in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang in 2012.

Zulfahmi went on to win a second podium – finishing third in Valencia, Spain that year – but never came anywhere near his best after that.

“I hope Malaysian fans will go easy and not expect podium finishes in each race, especially by Khairul,” said Shahrol.

“He has good factory support from Honda and that’s already a good indication of where he is heading if he can finish in the top 10 in the remaining rounds.”

Khairul, Adam and Moto2 rider Hafizh Syahrin will compete in the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this Sunday.

After two rounds, Hafizh and Khairul are fourth in the respective Moto2 (23pts) and Moto3 (25pts) standings.