Leon Camier
| Leon Camier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Leon Camier riding his Airwaves Yamaha during the 2009 BSB championship at Snetterton |
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| Born | 4 August 1986 Ashford, Kent |
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| Bike number | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | leon-camier.net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Leon Stuart Camier (born 4 August 1986 in Ashford, Kent, England) is a British motorcycle racer from Ashford, Kent, resident in Bournemouth. He was the 2005 British Supersport and 2009 British Superbike Champion. 2010 was his first season in the World Superbike series.
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Personal life [edit]
Camier is the son of David and Katie. His distant paternal ancestors were French Huguenots although several generations of the family lived in Cork, Ireland. His appreciation of the music of Jack Johnson has been mentioned on ITV's racing coverage. He also enjoys the likes of System of a Down and Linkin Park. At 6'2", he is tall for his profession which has its disadvantages over advantages, significantly. According to ITV's coverage, he has a habit of walking around circuits the evening before races with the aim of spotting extra details about the track. This is a habit picked up from his Grasstrack days where this behaviour is usual. His nickname is Shafter. As well as racing, Leon also enjoyed playing football as a youngster (playing for an Ashford based club called Bliby).
Early career [edit]
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.[1] This period built a working relationship with Honda which included contesting the 2005 Suzuka 8 Hours race in 2005 at the age of 18[2] (unusually young for a non-Japanese rider).
British Superbike Championship (2007–2009) [edit]
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.[3]
For 2008 he joined the GSE 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 team-mate. 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 "Matt Kenseth Rule" for 2010. This revised the points system to the split-season format popularly used by saloon-car series in the United States.
World Superbikes (2009–present) [edit]
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.[4] 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 team-mate Max Biaggi in race two at Miller Motorsport Park, giving Aprilia their first 1–2 in the series.[5] At his home round at Silverstone, Camier started 16th but fought back to finish sixth and third in the two races.[6]
Career statistics [edit]
Stats correct as of 28 September 2012
All Time [edit]
| Series | Years Active | Races | Poles | Podiums | Wins | 2nd place | 3rd place | Fast Laps | Titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Supersport Championship | 2004–06 | 37 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |
| Supersport World Championship | 2006 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| British Superbike Championship | 2007–09 | 69 | 9 | 31 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 1 | |
| Superbike World Championship | 2009- | 79 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 186 | 9 | 51 | 26 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 2 | ||
By championship [edit]
British Supersport Championship [edit]
| Yr | Class | Team | SIL |
BHI |
SNE |
OUL |
MON |
SNE |
BHGP |
KNO |
MAL |
CRO |
CAD |
OUL |
DON |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | BSS | Honda | 5 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 8 | 2 | Ret | 3 | 2 | Ret | 4 | 15 | 7th | 99 | [7] |
| Yr | Class | Team | BHI |
THR |
MAL |
OUL |
MON |
CRO |
KNO |
SNE |
SIL |
CAD |
OUL |
DON |
BHGP |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | BSS | Honda | 4 | 1 | 1 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1st | 202 | [8] |
| Yr | Class | Team | BHI |
DON |
THR |
OUL |
MON |
MAL |
SNE |
KNO |
OUL |
CRO |
CAD |
SIL |
BHGP |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | BSS | Honda | 5 | Ret | 4 | Ret | Can | 2 | 6 | Ret | 3 | 3 | 4 | Ret | 4 | 4th | 112 | [9] |
Supersport World Championship [edit]
| Pos | Rider | Bike | QAT |
AUS |
ESP |
ITA |
EUR |
SMR |
CZE |
GBR |
NED |
GER |
ITA |
FRA |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | WSS | Honda | 10 | 32nd | 6 | [10] |
British Superbike Championship [edit]
| Yr | Class | Team | BHGP |
THR |
SIL |
OUL |
SNE |
MOP |
KNO |
OUL |
MAL |
CRO |
CAD |
DON |
BHI |
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 | DNS | 8th | 199 | [11] | ||||
| Yr | Class | Team | THR |
OUL |
BHGP |
DON |
SNE |
MAL |
OUL |
KNO |
CAD |
CRO |
SIL |
BHI |
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 | Inj | Inj | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5th | 306 | [12] |
| Yr | Class | Team | BHI |
OUL |
DON |
THR |
SNE |
KNO |
MAL |
BHGP |
CAD |
CRO |
SIL |
OUL |
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 | EX | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1st | 549.5 | [13] |
Superbike World Championship [edit]
| Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 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 | 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 | [14] | ||||||||||
| Aprilia | CZE | CZE | GER | GER | ITA | ITA | FRA Ret |
FRA Ret |
POR 6 |
POR 7 |
[15] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | 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 | [16] | |||
| 2011 | 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 |
6th | 208 | [17] | |||
| 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 2 |
POR 11 |
POR Ret |
FRA Ret |
FRA 10 |
14th | 115.5 | [18] |
References [edit]
- ^ Motorcycle Racing Online – Leon Camier scoops 2005 British Supersport crown. F1network.net. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ CAMIER TURNING JAPANESE: News from Leon Camier. Biker247.com (3 August 2005). Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ 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 on 27 August 2011.
- ^ "Camier to replace Nakano at Aprilia". VisorDown (Magicalia Ltd.). 29 September 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ "Aprilia savours new landmark result". crash.net (Crash Media Group). 2 June 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ "Camier shows fighting spirit with 16th to podium". crash.net (Crash Media Group). 2 August 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Camier scoops Supersport title | BSB News | Oct 2005. Crash.Net (13 October 2005). Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ Standings. Worldsbk.Com. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ Airwaves Ducati Back In BSB With Byrne & Camier. Londonbikers.com (7 November 2007). Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/teams/airwaves-yamaha.aspx
- ^ BSB: Camier celebrates BSB championship title – British Superbikes – BSB Blog – Mirror.co.uk. Blogs.mirror.co.uk (27 September 2009). Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ [3][dead link]
- ^ Standings. Worldsbk.Com. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ Final 2010 WSBK Championship standings | WSBK News | Oct 2010. Crash.Net (3 October 2010). Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
- ^ http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_Round=POR&p_Anno=2011&p_Manifestazione=13&p_Gara=01&p_Sessione=002&p_Stampa=STD
- ^ http://sbk.perugiatiming.com/pdf_frame.asp?p_Round=ROUND&p_Anno=2012&p_Manifestazione=02&p_Gara=01&p_Sessione=002&p_Stampa=STD
