18/09/2025
Nikki Coates extended his ROKiT OFF BMW F 900 R Cup championship lead as he stormed to his third victory of the season at Donington Park.
As the series returned to the iconic track for the second time this season for Round Seven, LDC BMW by FPF Racing’s Coates arrived with a single point lead over Barry Burrell, who had closed in after a win at Cadwell Park a fortnight ago.
When the action began on Friday afternoon, it was Bowker Motorrad/Bathams Racing rider Kieran Smith who shot to the top of the free practice timesheets, setting a best lap of 1min 36.983secs to go 0.275s clear of Coates as Burrell was third quickest ahead of Christian Smith.
But Coates was back on top in Qualifying on Friday afternoon, as he clocked a 1min 36.461s lap, almost half a second clear of Smith, while Halliwell Jones Motorrad’s Burrell had to make do with the third best time. With Coates claiming pole for Heat One and Smith securing the spot for Heat Two, it meant Coates and Burrell would line up in the same Heat for the first time this season.
Adding a bit more interest was the return of reigning champion Thomas Strudwick, who wheeled out the same Case Moto BMW machine he powered to victory last season and hinted he also hoped to contest the final two rounds. Strudwick was fourth quickest to line up second alongside Smith in Heat Two, while Joe Walton and Josh Corner were fifth and sixth quickest respectively to round out both front rows.
As Heat One got underway, Burrell launched himself into the lead but Coates was right there with him and the pair began swapping places at the front. The battle raged throughout the full eight laps, with Coates emerging victorious by 0.208s at the flag. Christian Smith was third on the SCH Motoprep/Bathams Racing machine, with KBP Racing’s Walton fourth and Scott Carson fifth for Team Cryosol.
Heat Two proved to be just as close, as Strudwick charged off the line and into the lead, closely followed by Smith and Corner who both passed him before the end of Lap One. A lap later, Chasin the Racin’s Corner hit the front and despite pressure from Smith throughout the whole race, was able to hold him off to take the win. Strudwick was third with DWM Racing’s Andrew Williams fourth and James Bull fifth.
Next up was the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) to finalise the grid for Sunday’s race and one rider keen to amends was True Heroes Racing’s Kenny McLeod, who had highsided out of Heat Two at the final corner while running in fourth position.
Luke Foreman hit the front on his Foreman Taxis Racing machine on Lap One, as behind, McLeod made up seven places. Brandon Petty was right on Foreman’s tail and took the lead on the second lap – but McLeod was catching them, moving into third place a lap later. With just two laps to go, McLeod hit the front and quickly edged enough of a lead to bring his home first.
But behind, Petty and Foreman were locked in battle and on the final lap had a coming together. Foreman crashed out while petty was able to limp across the line in ninth position. However, he was later disqualified for causing a crash. Alex Vella took second on the B15 MOT/Club 62 Racing machine, with OWR Racing’s Jim Lee third.
All that was left was the Main Event, which kicked off Sunday’s action at the track. Kieran Smith had pulled pole position in the draw as Christian made it a Smith twins one-two on the grid with Strudwick third and Corner, Coates and Burrell starting from Row Two.
Kieran flew off the line to lead the pack into Redgate for the first time while behind, Burrell charged through from sixth on the grid to end Lap One third behind Strudwick. Strudwick hit the front a lap later, closely followed by Burrell as Coates and Corner slotted into third and fourth and Burrell passed Strudwick for the lead.
On Lap Four, Coates found a way past Burrell to hit the front and the pair began swapping places, allowing Corner to catch up and make it a three-way scrap. Corner eventually got the better of Burrell on the seventh lap and before Burrell had a chance to fight back, Kieran Smith crashed out from fifth place.
He walked away unhurt but he had spread gravel across the track, forcing the race to be stopped early and a result called – denying Burrell the chance to progress further.
Coates won by 0.727s over Corner, with Burrell crossing the line 0.302s later in third. Strudwick was fourth ahead of James Bull Racing as Scott Carson took sixth. Christian Smith was seventh, with Joe Walton eighth, Dave Grace ninth and Andrew Williams rounded out the top 10.
The result gave Coates the chance to extend his points lead over Burrell to seven, as Corner sits third, a further 24 points adrift, ahead of the penultimate round which will be held at Assen in The Netherlands later this month.
Donington Park Round Seven Main Event Result:
1. Nikki Coates (LDC BMW by FPF Racing)
2. Josh Corner (Chasin the Racin) +0.727s
3. Barry Burrell (Halliwell Jones Motorrad) +1.029s
4. Thomas Strudwick (Case Moto BMW) +1.771s
5. James Bull (James Bull Racing) +2.971s
6. Scott Carson (Team Cryosol) +9.974s
7. Christian Smith (SCH Motoprep/Bathams Racing) +10.464s
8. Joe Walton (KBP Racing) +10.671s
9. Dave Grace (Dave Grace) +15.215s
10. Andrew Williams (DWM Racing)
