SIMON Andrews maintains he will be firing on all cylinders at MCE Insurance British Superbike round four despite a weekend of emotional upheaval in Northern Ireland.

The Evesham rider is juggling his circuit racing with a foray onto the roads in 2011 and, as a result, made his bow at the North West 200.

But, while Andrews had an encouraging debut there, the trip was wrecked with five of the six races cancelled due to rain, a bomb scare, an oil spill and serious injury to friend Stuart Easton.

Easton was involved in a crash with Andrews’ former team-mate Gary Mason and sustained broken legs, hips, pelvis and fingers as well as a punctured bowel.

Andrews was one of the first on the scene but, despite insisting his thoughts have been with Easton, the Evesham ace insists he’ll put it out of his mind in the pursuit of race wins at round four at Thruxton this weekend.

“Road racing crashes like that are usually like a bombsite so it was not very nice to see,” said Andrews.

“I arrived about 30 seconds after the crash and so I was checking on Gary and I saw Stuart on one side of the road and his bike on the other.

“I have been to see Stuart in hospital a few times and it’s obviously not very nice. But we know the risks and it’s part of the job. I have got to get on and do that this weekend at Thruxton.

“I have gone fairly well round Thruxton in the past. It is a riders’ circuit and one I enjoy so hopefully I can get some good results.”

While Andrews’ weekend was one of disappointment and heartache, there was some good news after Evo championship leader Alex Lowes left his WFR team due to a contract dispute.

The Lincolnshire rider had established himself as the man to beat in the Evo class, winning five of the opening six races to lead fourth-placed Andrews by 74 points.

But Andrews insists Lowes’ departure has changed nothing in the PR Racing Kawasaki ranks.

“Alex not being there does not make that much difference to me as we have got our own game-plan,” added Andrews.

“It makes our job a little bit easier but in racing there is always going to be someone up there and riding well so it doesn’t make that much of a difference.”

British Eurosport 2 will broadcast every round of the British Superbike Championship. The channel is available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525. Watch online via eurosportplayer.co.uk.