WILD CARD COATES ON GSX-R POLE! May 28, 2005. Briton Adrian Coates dominated both qualifying sessions for the Suzuki GSX-R750 Cup round at Silverstone and will start tomorrow’s 12-lap race in pole position. Wild Card rider Coates had led day one’s charge by nearly three-quarters-of-a-second, but today things were much closer and he was pressed strongly by South African Hudson Kennaugh this afternoon. By the time today’s 40-minute qualifying session had finished, Coates has posted a time of 1:31.513, just over two-tenths-of-a-second ahead of Kennaugh. Third quickest was another ‘Wild Card’, David Johnson, with Spaniard Carmelo Morales fourth. All riders experienced problems with the strong winds that buffeted the 3.561 kilometre Northamptonshire circuit, but despite that, most improved on yesterday’s lap times. Adrian Coates – 1st: “I am really happy to have a Wild Card ride here at Silverstone. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I think it is a great series and I am having a lot of fun riding in it. The wind was a bit of a problem today – compared to yesterday – but as long as you were a bit cautious, it wasn’t too bad. “It’s going to be a hard 12 laps tomorrow but I’ve ridden this circuit layout before so I know what to expect. I hope to get a good start and get away from the rest of the field, but if I cannot do that, I think I can still pull off a good result.” Hudson Kennaugh – 2nd, 1:31.795: “I think this track is awesome and it is great fun as long as you have a fast bike and learn where to go quickly. It’s not a hard track to learn, but it’s a hard track to shave off those last fractions of a second. I know Coates is a ‘Wild Card’ and therefore will not be eligible for any points, but I still intend beating him.” Friday GSX-R Cup Qualifying: 1 Coates (GB) 1:31.513, 2 Kennaugh (RSA), 3 Johnson (GB), 4 Morales (E), 5 Ortega (E), 6 Salon (F), 7 Dell’Omo (E), 8 Fouloi (F), 9 Castellani (I), 10 Barber (GB). For more information and photos of the series, visit: www.gsxrcup.com.