FOR the third time in the past 14 months, Moto3 rider Khairul Idham Pawi's little finger had to go under the surgeon's knife.
Khairul, who underwent two surgeries on his pinkie last year, was again operated on for two hours in Barcelona on Tuesday.
The Petronas Sprinta Racing rider initially injured the finger in a crash at the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix in Jerez last year but aggravated it when he crashed at the Czech GP earlier this month.
Doctors had done a partial amputation on the finger during the first surgery in May last year.
"It's tough to be here again in the hospital for another (third) surgery but together with the team, we decided that it is for the best," said Khairul.
"It (injury) has followed me for too long now and I hope with this latest operation, it will be finally over, and I can focus on racing again," said Khairul who hopes to recover in time for the next leg of the world championship at Misano on Sept 11-13.
The Perak-born rider, struggling for form since rejoining the lightweight class this year, has yet to score a point in Moto3.