Jonathan Rea came agonisingly close to victory in race two of the World Superbikes event before being pipped by Italy's Marco Melandri.
The 25-year-old Northern Irishman took advantage of a mistake by race one winner Carlos Checa to lead, but was passed on the final lap by Melandri at Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City on Monday.
Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) won race one in Utah by 2.313 seconds ahead of Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) and Rea (Honda World Superbike Team.
And the Spanish veteran seemed set to make it a double when he established a 1.7secs lead inside five laps of race two.
He crashed out, though, with Melandri taking up the running, until he was passed by Rea on the 11th lap.
Rea was within a whisker of taking the chequered flag, but he was overtaken by Melandri on the last time round, the Italian ultimately winning by 0.195s.
Rea said: "The team gave me a little bit more power off the turn and it is clear to see how well the bike is working and how much traction I have.
"Just because of the big long straight here at Miller we have been down a little bit on speed, but I am not dwelling on the negatives.
"My guys gave me a great bike and I have good confidence now. I do not feel like I am riding on the edge, it is quite controlled, and that is a good thing."
Biaggi was third, with British pair Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Aprilia) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) fourth and fifth.
The result left Biaggi with an 18-point lead in the overall standings, ahead of Melandri and Sykes in joint second with Rea a further point and a half behind.
