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Camier rues mistakes but writes his name large

Friday, 5 March 2010 17:11 GMT
Camier rues mistakes but writes his name large
After racing as a WSBK wildcard three times in 2009, Leon Camier was not a rookie when he lined up for the first round of the championship in 2010. This is, however, his first full-time season in the Superbike Word Championship, after dominating the British Superbike series in 2009.


At Phillip Island he showed that he would be a real asset to WSBK and despite qualifying only 16th in Superpole, he was right in the leading group for much of the two 22-lap races. But it's safe to say he will be in no hurry to get back to the first hairpin at Phillip Island next year, as this section track was twice to be his undoing.


Said Leon - at 188cm tall the physical opposite of his diminutive team-mate Max Biaggi - "I'm very sorry about all of the mistakes I made. In race one I tried to pass the other riders at the first hairpin, but I overshot a bit while braking and in order to avoid hitting Max, I went off track. Then I really pushed to recover as many positions as possible."


He continued, "During the second race, I started off quite well and I was with the lead group, right behind Checa, who immediately passed Toseland. When I attempted to pass, we ended up a bit wide. Then I shifted into the wrong gear and overshot at the same corner as in race one."


Camier's ability to lap as quickly as the best on many occasions was a positive he can take away with him, but he feels there could have been much more. "I'm disappointed because I put in very good lap times and seeing how the race ended, I could have had an excellent result."


In finishing the PI races 11th each time, he is already inside the top ten of the championship, ninth. Leon will get his next points scoring chances at Portimao, Portugal, on 28 March.