Coates out for start of BSB season

Adrian Coates will miss the start of the BSB season after breaking his leg during testing in Spain.

The British 250 champion was having his second outing on the Padgett’s Suzuki GSX-R1000 he will campaign this season when he crashed at the Almeria circuit, on Tuesday.

Coates, 27, is expected to be out of action from between 12-16 weeks. The Ulsterman is undergoing surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast this afternoon to pin and screw the top of his broken tibia..

” It’s unbeliveable, ” sighed Coates. ” I was only on my fourth lap when I hit the brakes and there was nothing there. Clive Padgett has sent the X-rays to our team doctor but it looks like I’ll be out for three months at least. ”

Coates’ team-mate, Marty Nutt, was also in the wars in Spain. He crashed after just two laps and faces a race to be fit for the start of the season after breaking bones in both his feet.