Camier and Suzuki breakthrough with first podium
Thanks to two superb attacking races Leon Camier finally took the FIXI Crescent Suzuki team onto the podium for the first time this season, joining all the other manufacturers in this particular classification. After qualifying seventh in Tissot-Superpole, the former BSB champion finally showed what he was capable of at this late stage of the season in the team run by Jack Valentine, making its full time this year in WSB.
Forced to start from the back in 22nd position in race 1 due a a problem on the grid, Camier worked his way up to fifth place, running at a similar pace to the podium finishers. In the second encounter things were made easier by his second row position, and despite a poor start - he was 12th at the end of lap 1 - Leon took his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a terrific podium slot, third after a great scrap with Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team).
The result was a major boost for Camier and his team in view of the remainder of the season, and both are now convinced that they have finally found the right direction for the development of the Yoshimura-powered Suzuki GSX-R1000.
"It has been an eventful weekend - as usual - beginning with having to start from the last row of the grid in race one. The FIXI Crescent Suzuki team did a great job fixing the problem and getting me back out again in time for the warm-up lap. When the race began, I put my head down and just went for it and was soon overtaking riders one-by-one and making good progress lap-by-lap. At the end, I was getting closer and closer to Sykes and I think I would've also passed him, but I just ran out of time.
"I got a horrible start in race two and once again had to work my socks off getting through the pack. I got up to third place after 13 laps and passed Laverty two laps later, but a bit of a ‘moment' in the final chicane, one lap from the end, let Laverty back through and although I gave it everything I had, he just held me off.
"I'm very happy with the podium - it's been a long time - and the result in race one wasn't bad either. Today, the bike felt pretty good. The chassis has always been good and the Motec electronics are working extremely well and all this has given us a chance of running with the best. I'm really looking forward to the next couple of races and hope the team can continue to make progress and we get more results like today."
