British Superbike star Simon Andrews reckons he is happy with his his first foray in World Endurance racing at Doha this weekend despite having to retire halfway through when his Diablo666 bike developed an electrical fault.

The 24-year-old Lloyds British Jentin man hadn't done a full eight-hour race before and was over the moon when, on his first riding stint, the team took the lead as a couple of front runners crashed.

"We qualified seventh on the grid and Gary [Mason] started. He managed to get up to fifth by overtaking in a BSB style and then, with the first round of pitstops, we came out third and it my my turn on the bike.

"After some of the front guys, including Suzuki and Phase One crashed on some dodgy tarmac, we hit the front and it was a great feeling to be leading a world class race. The next round of stops sa us drop back a fraction but we were soon back up to fourth.

"My other team-mate James Hutchins held us there consistantly just before the evening and then Gary was catching third place by one second per lap and I was a bit quicker than that.

"But the bike broke down with some sort of electrical fault on my stint and we had to retire to the pits just after the fourth hour. We all had a great time and the team enjoyed being in that position so we left with our heads held high and still smiles from what could of been."

Andrews is still recovering from major surgery just 10 days before the race which saw the ligaments in his knee repaired and a crack in the back of his left kneecap sorted out.

"My leg progressed every day with a few more inches of movement and a little less pain! The training that I put in paid off as the track was long and physical."