PAUL VEAZEY was heading for a top ten finish in the recent European Supersport Championship race at Albacete in Spain before being hit by another rider and forced off the track and out of the race.

Middlesbrough's Veazey was battling for ninth place when Yamaha-mounted Jos van der Aa crashed into the rider.

Veazey suffered mild concussion and was hugely disappointed not to have finished the prestigious race and possibly secured his first top ten finish of the 2009 season.

"The European Championship is a one-off, end of season race and after a good qualifying and a good start to the race I was really hoping that I could crack the top ten," said Veazey.

Riding for the Joe Darcey Honda Supersport (600cc) Team, Veazey was as high as fifth place in qualifying and eventually qualified for the 20-lap race in 13th place.

But, on lap 12, disaster struck.

"The guy just rode straight into the side of me, there was nowhere for me to go and we both crashed out," continued Veazey. "I did get a bang on the head as I fell but I was lucky not to sustain any injuries.

"The qualifying was really good and I feel like I made another step towards being competitive again. I managed to go more than half-a-second faster on race tyres than I did on my last visit to Albacete so at least some good came from the weekend."

The European Championship was won by Veazey's Joe Darcey Honda team-mate, Scotsman Kevin Coghlan. Veazey returns to action with the Joe Darcey Team at Jerez and Valencia for the final two Spanish Championship rounds on November 15 and 22 respectively.