Camier optimistic despite 12th position at Portimao

Despite finishing 12th fastest at the Portimao test, Leon Camier left Portugal feeling positive due to the ongoing progress being made by his Aprilia team. In the final session of the test where the majority of the fast times were set, Camier never got to use a qualifying tyre and had his best lap ruined by a fuel starvation problem.

Earlier in the test Camier was tenth quickest on day one and sixth fastest in the wet on Saturday morning.

Speaking to MCN, he said: “Finishing 12th doesn’t look good on paper, but it’s not that bad. I thought we’d made a step on Saturday and we ended up testing things all day on Sunday, but we went the wrong way. I was starting to stress a bit because the times weren’t coming and then we went back to what we knew from Friday.

“Everyone else did their laps on a qualifier but I was using a race tyre. On my best lap I was up to sixth on the first split but as I came on to the start finish straight the bike started to cut out and I lost time all the way to the line. We’re learning every time we ride the bike.”

Camier is currently in Valencia, Spain for a further two day test where he will be on track alongside his tem-mate Max Biaggi and the Xerox Ducati, Althea Ducati and BMW squads.