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Leon Camier

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Leon Camier
Camier at Assen in 2016
NationalityBritish
Born (1986-08-04) 4 August 1986 (age 38)
Ashford, Kent, England
Current teamTeam HRC Superbike
Motorcycle racing career statistics
MotoGP World Championship
Active years2014
ManufacturersHonda
Championships0
2014 championship position27th (1 pt)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
4 0 0 0 0 1
125cc World Championship
Active years20022003
ManufacturersItaljet, Honda
Championships0
2003 championship positionNC (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
12 0 0 0 0 0
Superbike World Championship
Active years20092020
ManufacturersYamaha, Aprilia, Suzuki, BMW, MV Agusta, Honda
Championships0
2020 championship positionNC (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
223 0 9 0 1 1272.5
Supersport World Championship
Active years2006
ManufacturersHonda
Championships0
2006 championship position32nd (6 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
1 0 0 0 0 6
British Superbike Championship
Active years20072009
ManufacturersHonda, Ducati, Yamaha
Championships1
2009 championship position1st (549.5 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
70 22 33 9 20 1054.5
British Supersport Championship
Active years20042006
ManufacturersHonda
Championships1
2006 championship position4th (112 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
37 4 13 0 0 413

Leon Stuart Camier (born 4 August 1986) is an English former solo motorcycle racer.

After working as a race team manager, from 2024 he is a rider-coach for Sam Lowes and Elf Marc VDS Racing, a long-established team in Moto2, having a new entry to the Superbike World Championship using a Ducati Panigale 955.[1]

For the 2021 season, Camier was announced as team manager for Honda World Superbike team, run under Honda Racing Corporation. After a long career in solo motorcycle racing he struggled with injuries and finally decided to end his competitive riding.[2]

After difficult 2018 and 2019 seasons with Honda satellite team Moriwaki Althea and suffering from injuries, for 2020 he was contracted to ride for Barni Ducati in WSBK, but continued to have shoulder injury problems and was unable to start the season and parted ways with Barni Ducati.[3]

Career

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Early career

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After beginning Grasstrack racing aged 6 and winning five British championships, Camier became British Junior 80 cc Road Racing champion in 1998. He won the British 125 cc title in 2001 and the British Supersport crown in 2005.[4] This period built a working relationship with Honda which included contesting the 2005 Suzuka 8 Hours race in 2005 at the age of 18[5] (unusually young for a non-Japanese rider).

He was the 2005 British Supersport and 2009 British Superbike Champion. 2010 was his first full season in the World Superbike series.

British Superbike Championship (2007–2009)

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Leon Camier races at Brands Hatch in 2008
Camier riding his Airwaves Yamaha during the 2009 BSB championship at Snetterton

2007 was his first season in the British Superbike Championship on a Bike Animal Honda. He led the first corners of his very first race and was on the podium in the first three races. A crash in race 6 at Silverstone and two eighth places at Oulton Park damaged his momentum however. At Snetterton, a bike failure in qualifying saw him start 29th but he moved up to 6th in both races amidst Honda dominance. His season ended with a huge crash at Cadwell Park causing a broken left femur and right pelvis.[6]

For 2008 he joined the GSE Racing Airwaves Ducati team alongside former champion Shane 'Shaky' Byrne. He finished fifth overall, taking his first three wins.

For 2009 GSE switched to Yamahas and James Ellison joined as him teammate. Camier quickly dominated the series, winning even more races than Byrne had in 2008. He clinched the title with four races to go fittingly by overtaking closest rival Ellison on the penultimate lap of race 1 at Silverstone. Immediately on returning to the pits he was greeted by Niall Mackenzie (the last man to win the BSB title on a Yamaha) decked out in his original 1998 Rob Mac Cadbury's Boost leathers. Camier ultimately won a record-breaking 18 races despite only leading out of the first corner twice. His success led to the organisers of the series to adopt the "Showdown Rule" for 2010. This revised the points system to the split-season format popularly used by saloon-car series in the United States.

Superbike World Championship (2009–2020)

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After winning the title, Camier was invited to join the Aprilia squad in the Superbike World Championship for the final two races of the season, replacing the injured Shinya Nakano.[7] His first meeting at Magny-Cours saw him qualify 16th improving to set the fourth fastest warm-up time. Unfortunately, two technical problems meant he took no points. However, in the last meeting of the season at Portimao, Camier finished 6th and 7th.

Camier raced full-time with Aprilia in World Superbike in 2010. He finished second to teammate Max Biaggi in race two at Miller Motorsport Park, giving Aprilia their first 1–2 in the series.[8] At his home round at Silverstone, Camier started 16th but fought back to finish sixth and third in the two races.[9]

In late 2017, he signed to compete in the 2018 Superbike World Championship series aboard a Honda Fireblade SP2 for Ten Kate Racing as teammate to Jake Gagne.[10] Camier continued with Honda into 2019, for the first time a full factory-backed team, with teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari.[11]

For the 2020 season he was contracted to ride for Barni Ducati, but continuing shoulder injury problems prevented a start the season and he parted ways with Barni.[3]

Previously he competed since 2015 for MV Agusta Reparto Corse in World Superbikes aboard an MV Agusta F4.

Career statistics

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All-time statistics

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Series Years Active Races Poles Podiums Wins 2nd place 3rd place Fastest Laps Titles
British Supersport Championship 2004–2006 37 0 13 4 5 4 0 1
Supersport World Championship 2006 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
British Superbike Championship 2007–2009 70 9 33 22 6 5 20 1
Superbike World Championship 2009− 162 0 9 0 2 7 1 0
Total 270 9 55 26 13 16 21 2

British Supersport Championship

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Races by year

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(key)

Year Class Bike SIL
England
BHI
England
SNE
England
OUL
England
MON
Republic of Ireland
SNE
England
BHGP
England
KNO
Scotland
MAL
England
CRO
England
CAD
England
OUL
England
DON
England
Pos Pts Ref
2004 BSS Honda 5 Ret Ret 6 8 2 Ret 3 2 Ret 4 15 7th 99 [12]
Year Class Bike BHI
England
THR
England
MAL
England
OUL
England
MON
Republic of Ireland
CRO
England
KNO
Scotland
SNE
England
SIL
England
CAD
England
OUL
England
DON
England
BHGP
England
Pos Pts Ref
2005 BSS Honda 4 1 1 Ret Ret 2 1 1 4 3 2 7 5 1st 202 [13]
Year Class Bike BHI
England
DON
England
THR
England
OUL
England
MON
Republic of Ireland
MAL
England
SNE
England
KNO
Scotland
OUL
England
CRO
England
CAD
England
SIL
England
BHGP
England
Pos Pts Ref
2006 BSS Honda 5 Ret 4 Ret 2 6 Ret 3 3 4 Ret 4 4th 112 [14]

British Superbike Championship

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Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike BHGP
England
THR
England
SIL
England
OUL
England
SNE
England
MOP
Republic of Ireland
KNO
Scotland
OUL
England
MAL
England
CRO
England
CAD
England
DON
England
BHI
England
Pos Pts Ref
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2007 BSB Honda 2 3 2 5 4 Ret 8 8 5 6 7 6 Ret 7 6 5 8 11 7 5 Ret Ret 8th 199 [15]
Year Class Bike THR
England
OUL
England
BHGP
England
DON
England
SNE
England
MAL
England
OUL
England
KNO
Scotland
CAD
England
CRO
England
SIL
England
BHI
England
Pos Pts Ref
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2008 BSB Ducati 5 4 3 3 5 3 5 4 1 2 Ret 8 DNS DNS 5 8 4 4 1 5 1 4 5 3 5th 306 [16]
Year Class Bike BHI
England
OUL
England
DON
England
THR
England
SNE
England
KNO
Scotland
MAL
England
BHGP
England
CAD
England
CRO
England
SIL
England
OUL
England
Pos Pts Ref
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R3
2009 BSB Yamaha 4 1 1 1 1 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 DSQ 6 1 1 2 2 1 1 1st 549.5 [17]

Supersport World Championship

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Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Pts
2006 Honda QAT AUS SPA ITA EUR SMR CZE GBR
10
NED GER ITA FRA 32nd 6

Superbike World Championship

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Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
2009 Yamaha AUS AUS QAT QAT SPA SPA NED NED ITA ITA RSA RSA USA USA SMR SMR GBR
13
GBR
6
20th 32
Aprilia CZE CZE GER GER ITA ITA FRA
Ret
FRA
Ret
POR
6
POR
7
2010 Aprilia AUS
11
AUS
11
POR
5
POR
5
SPA
Ret
SPA
Ret
NED
3
NED
Ret
ITA
5
ITA
4
RSA
6
RSA
Ret
USA
4
USA
2
SMR
6
SMR
11
CZE
Ret
CZE
8
GBR
6
GBR
3
GER
DNS
GER
DNS
ITA ITA FRA FRA 12th 164
2011 Aprilia AUS
13
AUS
6
EUR
8
EUR
3
NED
Ret
NED
4
ITA
8
ITA
Ret
USA
4
USA
2
SMR
6
SMR
Ret
SPA
3
SPA
8
CZE
7
CZE
Ret
GBR
15
GBR
5
GER
8
GER
Ret
ITA
15
ITA
3
FRA
4
FRA
6
POR
12
POR
6
7th 208
2012 Suzuki AUS
17
AUS
12
ITA
Ret
ITA
8
NED
Ret
NED
14
ITA
C
ITA
15
EUR
9
EUR
4
USA
13
USA
11
SMR
10
SMR
15
SPA
9
SPA
Ret
CZE
14
CZE
9
GBR
Ret
GBR
Ret
RUS
15
RUS
5
GER
5
GER
3
POR
11
POR
Ret
FRA
Ret
FRA
10
14th 115.5
2013 Suzuki AUS
9
AUS
9
SPA
DNS
SPA
DNS
NED
9
NED
7
ITA
9
ITA
7
GBR
Ret
GBR
13
POR
4
POR
Ret
ITA
7
ITA
7
RUS
9
RUS
C
GBR
3
GBR
5
GER
Ret
GER
DNS
TUR
DNS
TUR
DNS
USA USA FRA FRA SPA
8
SPA
6
11th 132
2014 BMW AUS AUS SPA
12
SPA
12
NED
13
NED
Ret
ITA
11
ITA
12
GBR
DNS
GBR
DNS
MAL
10
MAL
12
ITA ITA POR POR 16th 37
MV Agusta USA
15
USA
10
SPA SPA FRA FRA QAT QAT
2015 MV Agusta AUS
10
AUS
8
THA
Ret
THA
Ret
SPA
10
SPA
15
NED
10
NED
10
ITA
Ret
ITA
Ret
GBR
9
GBR
Ret
POR
Ret
POR
Ret
ITA
13
ITA
16
USA
10
USA
10
MAL
13
MAL
12
SPA
9
SPA
8
FRA
5
FRA
15
QAT
Ret
QAT
Ret
13th 89
2016 MV Agusta AUS
7
AUS
Ret
THA
11
THA
11
SPA
Ret
SPA
16
NED
4
NED
9
ITA
6
ITA
5
MAL
10
MAL
9
GBR
4
GBR
5
ITA
8
ITA
Ret
USA
11
USA
DNS
GER
5
GER
4
FRA
7
FRA
4
SPA
7
SPA
Ret
QAT
18
QAT
13
8th 168
2017 MV Agusta AUS
5
AUS
8
THA
8
THA
Ret
SPA
11
SPA
10
NED
10
NED
6
ITA
6
ITA
Ret
GBR
6
GBR
6
ITA
11
ITA
Ret
USA
6
USA
Ret
GER
5
GER
6
POR
4
POR
Ret
FRA
4
FRA
Ret
SPA
12
SPA
12
QAT
9
QAT
9
8th 168
2018 Honda AUS
7
AUS
6
THA
4
THA
6
SPA
Ret
SPA
DNS
NED NED ITA
WD
ITA
WD
GBR
10
GBR
8
CZE
9
CZE
7
USA
Ret
USA
13
ITA
9
ITA
10
POR
Ret
POR
14
FRA
11
FRA
9
ARG
10
ARG
Ret
QAT
Ret
QAT
C
12th 108
Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos Pts
R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2
2019 Kawasaki AUS
Ret
AUS
13
AUS
10
THA
13
THA
NC
THA
DNS
SPA
11
SPA
12
SPA
13
NED
11
NED
C
NED
12
ITA
DNS
ITA
DNS
ITA
C
SPA SPA SPA ITA ITA ITA GBR GBR GBR USA USA USA POR POR POR FRA
7
FRA
16
FRA
9
ARG
DNS
ARG
12
ARG
13
QAT
10
QAT
13
QAT
16
17th 51
2020 Ducati AUS
DNS
AUS
DNS
AUS
DNS
SPA SPA SPA POR POR POR SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA SPA FRA FRA FRA POR POR POR NC 0

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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By season

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Season Class Motorcycle Team Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2002 125cc Italjet Italjet Racing Service 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2003 125cc Honda Metasystem Racing Service 9 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2014 MotoGP Honda Drive M7 Aspar 4 0 0 0 0 1 27th
Total 16 0 0 0 0 1

Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Pts
2002 125cc Italjet JPN RSA SPA FRA ITA CAT
24
NED
28
GBR
24
GER CZE POR BRA PAC MAL AUS VAL NC 0
2003 125cc Honda JPN
26
RSA
Ret
SPA
30
FRA
24
ITA
30
CAT
27
NED
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
23
CZE POR BRA PAC MAL AUS VAL NC 0
2014 MotoGP Honda QAT AME ARG SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER INP
Ret
CZE
15
GBR
16
RSM
16
ARA JPN AUS MAL VAL 27th 1

References

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  1. ^ Ex-Honda boss Leon Camier lands new role with WorldSBK team for 2024 bikesportnews, 19 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024
  2. ^ WSB: Leon Camier named as new Honda team manager Motorcycle News, 18 January 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021
  3. ^ a b Camier joins Barni Ducati for 2020 WorldSBK season wsbk.com, 22 October 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019
  4. ^ Motorcycle Racing Online – Leon Camier scoops 2005 British Supersport crown. F1network.net. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  5. ^ CAMIER TURNING JAPANESE: News from Leon Camier. Biker247.com (3 August 2005). Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  6. ^ Pinchin, Gary. (28 August 2007) British Superbikes: Leon Camier's operation a success – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN. Motorcyclenews.com. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Camier to replace Nakano at Aprilia". VisorDown. Magicalia Ltd. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  8. ^ "Aprilia savours new landmark result". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Camier shows fighting spirit with 16th to podium". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  10. ^ Jake Gagne completes Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team line up for 2018 Honda Racing, 7 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018
  11. ^ Moriwaki Althea Honda Team officially launch their 2019 colours and team hondaproracing.com Retrieved 28 July 2019
  12. ^ "FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS". Archived from the original on 25 December 2008.
  13. ^ Camier scoops Supersport title | BSB News | Oct 2005. Crash.Net (13 October 2005). Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  14. ^ "FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS". Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  15. ^ Airwaves Ducati Back In BSB With Byrne & Camier Archived 19 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Londonbikers.com (7 November 2007). Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  16. ^ "ViSK British Superbike Championship Race Two - Oulton Park". Archived from the original on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  17. ^ BSB: Camier celebrates BSB championship title – British Superbikes – BSB Blog – Mirror.co.uk Archived 29 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Blogs.mirror.co.uk (27 September 2009). Retrieved 27 August 2011.
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