Page 94 - ISSUE42

PAUL COATES
250 SX / 15TH
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / ECKERT DESIGN / WILSON
>> The #65 of Paul Coates has struggled recently, failing to make a main event since Atlanta and round two of the East coast series. Hoping to make his way back into the big race this past weekend, though, Coates came into Detroit, and round six, with a vengeance to improve upon the lackluster results. Beginning his night in heat two, Coates came out of the gate buried in the pack but was within striking distance of a transfer position, sitting in 11th as the field finished the first lap. It wasn’t until the race was almost at the halfway mark when 12th placed rider, Henry Miller, made the move around Coates as the two swapped positions. Coates then made his way back into 11th around a downed rider, but was still following Miller, as both riders were hunt- ing the last transfer spot. Miller was able to make a few more moves into 6th, while Coates wasn’t able to follow. With Miller getting away, the #65 was able to make his own move and gain 10th heading into the final lap. Picking up 9th a few turns later, Coates held out and took the final ticket from the heat into the main event in nail- biting fashion.
Mimicking his heat race start and able to get near the inside line in the first turn of the main, Coates moved into 11th as he got by the carnage that littered the outside lane. On the second lap of the race, a mistake from Coates allowed Josh Cartwright by
and led to Paul dropping another position to Jesse Wentland a lap later. In 13th and attempting to hold off Christian Craig, Coates buckled and let the Geico rider by. Now ahead of heat race rival Henry Miller, Coates held strong in 14th for the majority of the main. With Miller applying pressure behind him that increased with each lap, it wasn’t until the final moments that Coates began to give way to the #81, as the two engaged in battle. When the race reached the last lap before the white flag was raised, Coates gave in to the pressure and dropped to 15th behind Miller. Forced to pull over and let the leaders by following the pass, Coates was lapped and therefore left in 15th for
the final lap. Having crossed the main event finish line for the first time in a month, Coates was all smiles after the race, having turned around the season in a single night. Coates will now look to carry the fresh streak into St. Louis where he’ll get the next chance to continue his main event success.
94 GRITMOTO • MARCH 26, 2017