Tantalisingly close for Andrews.

UCL Honda rider Simon Andrews has just had another great weekend at the Mallory Park round of the British Superbike Championship.

Starting from his second consecutive pole in the Supersport race Andrews was fifth after the first lap and then gradually fought his way back up to the lead.

He held the front spot in a thrilling duel for several laps before the safety car came out mid-race bunching up the field. With a few laps to go he was edged out of first and saw out the remainder of the race in second place.

"It is a good sign of how far the team have progressed to be disappointed with another second in the Supersport race," commented Andrews. "The Dunlop tyres were perfect and the huge amount of work done by the team and our engine tuners Race Techniques is starting to pay off. It was definitely our best performance to date. We are now all looking to the final round at Donington to hopefully score our first win and finish of the season on a high."

The result puts Andrews in equal sixth place in the Supersport championship with podium finishes in each of the last five rounds the team have contested. The weekends result is all the more impressive as the team had only returned on the Monday night from the Oschersleben - Assen European Superstock double-header.

European Superstock commitments have meant the team has now missed six UK rounds. A full national Supersport programme would have put Andrews right in the middle of the fight for this year's championship.

Saturday qualifying saw Andrews secure his second consecutive pole position in the Supersport session. He also posted the eleventh fastest time with the Fireblade in the Superstock.

The Superstock race early in the day saw Simon progress through the field from a starting position of eleventh to secure a strong eighth, his fifth top ten finish of the season.

With consistently good results in the Supersport and Superstock national championships the team have opted to contest the final British Superbike round at Donington rather than making the trip to Imola for the last WSB round.

Andrews and the team are looking to snatch that elusive first win in the Supersport to finish the year on the right note.