British Superbikes: Christmas series part four: Leon Camier speaks about new Airwaves Ducati team

This is the fourth in a series of five interviews with British Superbike’s top riders giving motorcyclenews.com their thoughts on their new teams.

Never before has there been so much movement on the British Superbikes rider market during the off-season as we’ve since this winter.

Even the top five seats in British Superbikes have new riders sitting on them next year.

They’ve all been acquainted with their new teams so what better time to get their thoughts on their moves?

In part four, Leon Camier gives us his views.

LEON CAMIER
2007 Bike Animal Honda
2008 Airwaves Ducati

First impressions of your new team?

“Brilliant. I went to the workshop to sign my contract and everyone made me feel so welcome.

“The mechanics seems like they’re really peaking and I can’t imagine a better start to joining a new team. The workshop is something else. Big, immaculate. Just what you’d expect from a totally professional race team I guess.

Most exciting thing about your new team?

“A factory Ducati. A team that has a reputation like GSE Racing has. I know the bike will be good but the team has a reputation for always getting the best out of it’s riders.

“The weird thing for me is that although I know I’ve signed and I’ve been to the workshop and met the team,  it still doesn’t feel real. It’s only going to feel real when I actually go testing the first time and get to ride that new bike.

What will you miss most your old team?

“My crew, Tom Larssen my crew chief and my mechanics Chris and Wody. We had asuch a good, friendly thing going down. But having met the GSE boys I can’t see any reason why we can’t have that same thing going next year.

How will BSB shape up without Ryuichi Kiyonari?

“I could say a bit easier but the reality is that it will be just hard as ever. You’ve only got to look at the line-up, Cal (Crutchlow) and Leon (Haslam) will be quick on Hondas, (Tom) Sykes is going to be good on the Suzuki.

“Then the bikes are all going to built to a new level (to comply with the new BSB supersport-style engine regulations – Editor) and there’s no factory HRC bikes or Michelins.

“Yeah, so the level of the bike is going to be closer, there’s going to be the new tyre rule to bring things closer. I reckon it should be a really tough season and I’m really excited about that.”

Check back tomorrow as motorcyclenews.com speaks to Tom Sykes

British Superbikes Christmas special part one: Shane Byrne

British Superbikes Christmas special part two: Cal Crutchlow

British Superbikes Christmas special part three: Leon Haslam