Coates back in action

Ballyrobert’s Nikki Coates has been missing from the last three rounds of the British Supersport series after splitting with his Kawasaki team, but he will make a welcome return to the championship this weekend when the series goes to Assen.
By Maurice Montgomery
Published 18th Sep 2013, 09:02 BST
Nikki Coates relaxes at home before making a return to British Supersport action this weekend. INLT 38-917-CONNikki Coates relaxes at home before making a return to British Supersport action this weekend. INLT 38-917-CON
Nikki Coates relaxes at home before making a return to British Supersport action this weekend. INLT 38-917-CON

Coates has joined forces with CF Motorsport, run by Craig Fitzpatrick, to race an R6 Yamaha.

The Times caught up with him at home before he headed off to the Dutch meeting, and he was looking forward to the new challenge. “ I reckon this will be a great chance to re-establish myself in the series. It was just not working out with the Kawasaki set-up but with this bike and team I am confident of better things.

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“The bike will be in EVO spec and will run in the supersport cup championship to the end of 2013. It will not be as highly tuned as the likes of Alastair Seeley’s machine, but I am confident of some decent results on it.

“With the championship going to run an EVO series instead of a supersport cup in 2014, it will be a great chance between now and the end of the season to get in some very useful testing for next year when I do believe I can make the podium on a regular basis.

“The EVO bike will give the likes of myself a chance to be competitive within a sensible budget, so I am really looking forward to it. It was no fun watching the racing from the sofa so I can’t wait to get started!”