The PETRONAS MIE RW Racing Team prepares for the challenge that is the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, to be staged this coming weekend at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. The squad will line up in the Moto2 class with local riders Khairul Idham Pawi and Muhammad Helmi Azman.

Born on 20 September 1998, Pawi has extensive experience in the Moto3 and Moto2 world championships and achieved Moto3 race wins at the 2016 Argentinian and German rounds. Runner-up in the 2023 ARRC Supersport championship, 26-year-old Pawi was a permanent entry in this season’s recently concluded Supersport World Championship, competing for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and scoring points during the Australian and French rounds.

Hailing from Selangor, Malaysia, Muhammad Helmi Azman was born on 12 November 1999. He won the 2020 CP150 Malaysian Cub Prix series and was runner-up in the 2022 ARRC SSP600 class, before finishing fourth overall in the 2023 edition, 25 points behind Pawi. Azman previously represented MIE Racing at the 2023 Malaysian Moto2 round, crossing the line twenty-third in Sunday’s race.

Designed by renowned racetrack architect Hermann Tilke, Sepang International Circuit hosted its first Grand Prix in 1999 and has been a regular fixture on the world championship calendar ever since. Specifically built for speed, the Malaysian track incorporates four slow corners coming on the back of two long straights and ten medium-high speed corners, with the wide track offering plenty of opportunity for overtaking. Located approximately 50km from Kuala Lumpur, the Sepang International Circuit also poses a challenge in terms of its hot and humid climate.

Khairul Idham Pawi

“Firstly, I would like to thank PETRONAS and the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team for giving me the chance to compete in Moto2 at Sepang. It’s a dream come true to compete at home. It’s been a long time since I rode a Moto2 bike, and so I expect it to be a steep learning curve. I have more recent experience of Sepang though, as I competed there in last season’s ARRC Supersport 600 championship. I’m excited to get started and will try to do my best and make the most of this opportunity.”

Muhammad Helmi Azman

“I want to sincerely thank PETRONAS for this incredible opportunity to be a wildcard rider again this year. It's my second chance to compete in Moto2 on home soil at the MotoGP, and I’m really excited to improve on last year’s performance. It is a very interesting experience for me and a boost to my career that requires me to adapt quickly to the Moto2 bike. My preparation involves both physical training and riding, as well as reviewing last year's data so as to work on key areas in order to perform as well as I can this year. A big thank you to Boon Siew Honda, my family, fans, and everyone who continues to support me. I’ll do my best for all Malaysians!"

Track Information:

Country: Malaysia
Name: PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit
Length: 5.54 km
Longest straight: 920 m
Turns: 10 right, 5 left
 

Weekend schedule (CET+7):

Friday
9.50-10.30 – Free Practice
14.05-14.45 – Free Practice

Saturday
9.25 - 9.55 – Free Practice
13.45-14.00 – Qualifying 1
14.10-14.25 – Qualifying 2

Sunday
13.15 – Race (17 laps)