Moto3: Rookie Pawi splashes to second win
Dominant Khairul Idham Pawi proved his damp Argentina race win was no one-off as he powered away in the rain to win the German Moto3 Grand Prix, a massive 11.1 seconds clear despite easing down as he took the chequered flag.
The Honda Team Asia rider started twentieth on the grid before topping the wet warm up by a considerable margin and it took just four laps for the Malaysian to slice thought to first, where he remained for the rest of the race, at ease in the conditions despite a few wobbles for his second win in his rookie season.
The seventeen year old was briefly under pressure from his team-mate Hiroki Ono in the opening stages, but once he fell away Pawi looked untouchable. He went on to lap backmarker Fabio Quartararo.
Andrea Locatelli showed fine form in all conditions and was too not fazed by the change in weather as he maintained his grid position to take second for Leopard, his first podium finish, the sole KT on the rostrum.
Enea Bastianini also impressed in the wet for Gresini, the pole man having to fight hard for position on track until he too pulled clear to take third.
Jakub Kornfeil was the winner of the tussle for fourth, taking the position for Drive M7 SIC when Fabio Di Giannantonio and John McPhee became preoccupied in a battle for track.
The Italian go the best of that on track scrap in fifth on the second Gresini, while McPhee lead briefly on his way to sixth, his best result this season and a new best for the Peugeot since their return with the Saxoprint team.
Championship rivals Jorge Navarro and Brad Binder were stuck together on track for much of the race, with the returning Navarro finishing ahead in seventh for Estrella Galicia. Red Bull KTM Ajo's Binder retains the lead in the hunt for the title, the difference cut by just one point to 47.
Jules Danilo kept his improved form and took the chequered flag ninth as the sole Ongetta-Rivacold representataive, Assen winner Francesco Bagnaia completed the top ten for Aspar Mahindra.
Tatsuki Suzuki was next to find the finish line in eleventh for CIP, while another early leader Bo Bendsneyder was twelfth for Red Bull.
Also in the points at the Sachsenring were Gabrie Rodgrigo in 13th for RBA, RW Racing's Livio Loi in 14th and Aron Canet who collected the final point on offer with Estrela Galicia.
Romano Fenati was the only Sky Racing rider to finish in 18th just holding off Geraman wild-card Max Kappler in 19th. Tim Georgi both made it to the end of his first championship appearance in 21st
Britains Danny Webb also went the distance in 22nd.
Crashes were to be expected in the wet weather with Joan Mir first to exit on lap one, he was later joined by Lorenzo Petararca, Gabriel Rodrigo, Darryn Binder, Jorge Martin and Andrea Migno.
Hiroki Ono also pushed the limits too far, saving a highside whixh dropped him from a clear second to fifth only to fall again a few laps later. Adam Norrodin then was the next to fall after climbing to tenth.
Nicolo Bulega kept the misery coming for the Sky Racing VR46 team when he tumbled with 12 laps to go
Fabio Spiranelli (broken left hand) Maria Herrera (fractured left wrist) and Nico Antonelli (broken collarbone) did not start.
