print BEACON TAS SUZUKI’S Tom Sykes finished his 2005 Metabo British Supersport
campaign at Brands Hatch (October 9th) with a solid fifth place in only
his third race since returning from an arm injury.
Team–mate Simon Andrews brought his Beacon TAS Suzuki home in ninth
place to end his season in the same series, but it was Adrian Coates who
kept the title dream alive right to the final race at the final round of
the year in the National Superstock championship.
Coates trailed Lee Jackson by only nine points going into the race and after
swapping paintwork with a few of his racing peers in a nerve tingling finale,
it just wasn’t meant to be for the Antrim rider. On the penultimate
lap, the Beacon TAS Suzuki pilot made a bold move to take the lead from
Ian Hutchinson but both riders collided with Coates ending his season in
the Brands Hatch gravel trap.
Tom Sykes “I’m frustrated today. I didn’t get a great
start but I was making ground on the leading bunch for about the first six
or eight laps but after that the gap began to grow and I was left to bring
my Beacon TAS Suzuki home in the points. It has been a good and bad year
with the injury putting paid to my title chances - but we proved as a team
that we are certainly capable of doing the business in 2006. That’s
a satisfying thought.”
Simon Andrews “Obviously ninth is not
where I needed to be and I have a bit of thinking to do over the winter.
I have enjoyed working with Beacon TAS Suzuki and riding the Supersport
series even though I have struggled a bit this season. Today I just wanted
to finish and bring the bike home as high up as possible with no heroics!”
Adrian Coates “I gave it everything I could but that crash…that
was big ‘air time!’ I knew what I had to do and into turn one
was the best place for me to make the move as the other guys were stronger
than me out the back of the course. I got the bike a bit sideways and it
really backed into the turn and with Ian moving across we collided and I
ended up going out over the high–side. Obviously I’m gutted
that the championship has gone but I’m looking forward to this weekend’s
Sunflower and then to 2006. There is more to come from Adrian Coates!”
Philip Neill, Team Manager “I’m disappointed for Coatesy that
he lost out at the final hurdle in the Superstock series and where bold
moves are to be made, he’s certainly not afraid to have a go. He has
been very strong in this series, and but for a blip in the early rounds
I feel he would have had the title in the bag but that’s racing. Tom
Sykes is also disappointed today but he has come back strong from injury
proving that he will be the man to beat in 2006. He consistently qualifies
the Beacon TAS Suzuki on the front row of the grid and that consistency
is a must for any rider looking to become British champion of which Tom
certainly has the pedigree.
Simon has had a below par year by his standards
but the result at Cadwell proved that he is more than capable; it’s
up to him to build on that.
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