Camier expectant but rivals re-group to challenge

British Superbike Press Release

Leon Camier is eager for an action replay of his winning ride at Croft of last season in his efforts to secure the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli but the Airwaves Yamaha rider, who has a comfortable lead in the title stakes, goes into the tenth round knowing that the action will be tough.

His rivals have re-grouped, with something of a re-shuffle of the pack.  Hydrex Honda, who currently have Stuart Easton running third in the title stakes, adrift of Camier and his team-mate James Ellison, have dropped Karl Harris from their line-up after several disappointing results, and replaced him by former World Superbike rider Tommy Hill.

Hill impressed when he deputized for the injured Sylvain Guintoli aboard the Worx Crescent Suzuki but was left without a ride when the Frenchman returned at Cadwell Park putting in two strong performances, with the promise of better things to come at the North Yorkshire circuit.

Harris, a former winner of the Supersport crown, has meanwhile returned to the Rob McElnea equipe for whom he raced last year, taking over their Node 4 bike as a replacement for their injured rider Jon Kirkham.

The HM Plant Honda team meanwhile have their Australian Josh Brookes returning to action having served a two event ban, imposed on him after the Mallory Park round, and he is keen to make a big impression having tested at the circuit in readiness for these races.

“I am there to get results, to be back on the podium and to stay focused on the final rounds,” said Brookes, adding: “At Knockhill I was running at the front, not that far off Camier and we had a bit of a scrap, so I want to come back here and challenge him again.”

Camier, who goes into these races with a massive 97.5 points lead in the series, over Ellison, has a settled team environment in which to work and he intends to use this to good effect to tighten his grip on the sport’s premier trophy which he believes will be a stepping stone to his graduation onto the World stage.

The two Airwaves rider have won all but one of the races between them so far, and they aim to maintain the pedigree in this round, with Ellison positive that he can rack up the points to keep second place in the standings out of reach of Easton. 

There are other riders capable of springing surprises with Simon Andrews aboard the MSS Colchester Kawasaki along with John Laverty on the similar machine, running in Buildbase colours, while Chris Walker needs a strong result on the Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha as does Relentless Suzuki’s Ian Lowry.

Gary Mason, the clear leader in the Mirror.co.uk Cup, expects to add to his winning tally aboard the Quay Garage Honda, but under pressure from local favorite Tom Tunstall together with Peter Hickman and Martin Jessopp.

Croft Fast Facts:

Lap records (2.1250-mile circuit)

Superbike - Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 19.695s, 95.99mph, 12/08/07

Supersport - Glen Richards, Triumph, 1m 22.166secs, 93.10mph 14/09/08

125GP - Robbie Stewart, Honda, 1m 26.613s, 88.32mph, 12/08/07

1000 Superstock - Jon Kirkham, Yamaha, 1m 22.914secs, 92.62mph, 14/09/08

600 Superstock - Robbie Brown, Yamaha, 1m 25.409secs, 89.57mph 13/09/08

Flashback 2008

Race one (20 laps):

1. L Camier, Ducati, 27m 06.760secs

2. L Haslam, Honda

3. T Sykes, Suzuki

4. C Crutchlow, Honda

5. S Byrne, Ducati

6. M Rutter, Ducati

Race two (20 laps)

1. L Haslam, Honda, 27m 04.305secs, 94.19mph

2. T Sykes, Suzuki

3. C Crutchlow, Honda

4. S Byrne, Ducati

5. L Camier, Ducati

6. M Rutter, Ducati