Cadwell was a bit of a random weekend as far as the results are concerned, I won the first race and led the second race but was disqualified afterwards as my bike was smoking for the last lap. Other than that I had a good weekend and put a lot of demons to rest, I’ve not won at Cadwell for a long time and obviously it was the place where I broke my leg pretty badly so it was nice to shut a door on all of that and take a big step forward.

The Airwaves Yamaha boys once again worked really well over the entire weekend and gave me a really good package which felt great from first practice. We didn’t really have any problems to overcome over the weekend but instead my bike gremlin hit during the race. I did get confused on what each flag meant and I should have pulled in but I thought I had a lap to pull off the track, I didn’t and I paid the consequences for it. At Mallory it worked in my favour and at Cadwell it didn’t!

I’ve been doing a lot of cycling recently with Julian and keeping myself fit and on top of my game which makes a race weekend not a tedious and makes riding the Airwaves Yamaha much easier, I feel good when I go to every race and that motivates me to get good results at the BSB.

I’ve a weekend off now I’m going to Italy and then from Italy to the World Superbikes in Germany. People keep asking my plans for 2010, as yet I don’t know, everything is still up in the air and whatever I decide I have to make sure it’s a competitive ride where I can get some good results and prove myself.

Next stop for us in the British Superbikes is up north to Croft, it’s a track I really like and hopefully I can continue to get some wins there!

Thanks for all the support at Cadwell!

Cheers

Leon #2

Leon’s personal sponsors Fox have allocated Leon a special discount code for all people wishing to buy any Fox Items.

Shop at www.foxeurope.com and select all items you require in your shopping basket.

Once it lists all your items and the total value please enter the promotional code 08002 in the box provided under the item list, highlighted in red. Press UPDATE LIST and this will apply the discount.

Happy Shopping!!

Well what can I say about Brands, other than it was pretty special. Ok so I’ve won a few races this year, but the third race at Brands will definitely stick in my mind for a long while. I became the first rider since Niall Mackenzie in 1997 to take the most British Superbike race wins; I notched up number 14 in the last race. More so was getting Colin’s 100th win as a team manager, good times!

There’s always that little extra pressure when it’s your home round, it was the first triple BSB race weekend, plus a whole host of other things going on over the weekend, including the old legends on their classic bikes – that’ll be me in 40 years time (hopefully if they class me as a legend!!!). I had a heap of friends and family coming to watch me over the weekend and I knew that I had to pull something special out the bag to keep them entertained!

We had a couple of bike issues on the Friday morning but the Airwaves Team soon got it fixed and we were ready to rock and roll come the early qualifying on Saturday afternoon. I set pole position again, sometimes a wasted place for me as I do struggle with my starts. It did seem odd having a race on Saturday and getting race head on early was different.

Paul Bird had entered his World Superbike team for the weekend and I was quite looking forward to a bit of a battle with them. Broc Parkes certainly gave me a run for my money in all the races and it was really good to be pushed. Broc and I took off at the front and I think we were nearly 10 seconds in front of third placed man Stuart (Easton) at the end of the race. Another solid win for myself and the Airwaves Yamaha team, but with two more races to go on the Sunday I knew I had to ‘Kick Up a Gear’.

Something strange happened in the first race on Sunday, I got the whole-shot!!! Shock, horror, I think it’s my first one since Brands Hatch on the Bike Animal Honda in 2007 so I was pretty impressed! Starts, I have to say I have struggled with but it all seemed to come right in the first race and it was a nice feeling knowing I could do it!

My race two start however, went a tad wrong and I was sucked backwards like someone was holding a vacuum behind me! I was 12th into Paddock Hill and knew I would have my work cut out as I knew Broc would be pulling a gap at the front. I made some interesting, safe but fast passing moves on some people and finally I had Broc in my sights. I didn’t want to push to hard and risk crashing or totally destroying my tyres so I just kept my head down. I knew what I had to do and I knew how much the second race meant to everyone – I had to win, there was no option!

By lap four I was in second place but Broc already had a 3.4 second lead over me, I had to dig deep and even though it took a while I passed him on lap 15. The last laps were long laps, I could just see Colin in my head saying don’t do anything silly! I kept her going and brought the Airwaves Yamaha home for another win, but this time a special win and if it wasn’t for the entire Airwaves Yamaha team these records wouldn’t have been broken. I’m extremely grateful for all their help, effort and support that they have given me so far and thank them all for helping me achieve what I did at Brands, it’s much appreciated.

The support I had from the fans at Brands was fantastic, I know people have said the Championship has got a little boring but the cheers on the podium that I got in each race really does make it all worthwhile and it was great to see so many Airwaves Yamaha shirts around.

Thanks everyone and hope the season continues like this, next stop Cadwell Park, let’s hope it’s a good one!

Cheers

Leon

A Week in the life of Leon Camier – Airwaves Yamaha
www.leoncamier.com

As Leon celebrates his Birthday (4th Aug) there is no let up for him as he busily prepares himself for round eight of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend, where he will compete in three races over the weekend, one on the Saturday and two on the Sunday.

Catching up with Leon’s trainer, ex top motocross rider Julian Clark, he gives us a brief overview into Leon’s week and how he prepares himself for each British Superbike race and trains with young up and coming motocross rider Kristian Whatley.

Leon’s main form of training this season has been cycling, a sport he took up in a major way after his crash in 2007, as this was one of the things he could do to get himself fit again. Since then he has very much kept up a very strict and physical routine to help him with his main focus and aim this year to win the 2009 British Superbike Championship.

In an average week, if Leon does not have a BSB race weekend, he will cycle around 11/12 hours each week covering a distance of around 300 - 350 miles, excluding a 120km race which he partakes in each Sunday when he’s not racing his Airwaves Yamaha.

Cycling takes up the majority of Leon’s time and training but alongside that he also works extensively hard down at the gym on the core muscles and his cardio vascular work, this includes boxing work on the punch bag and general exercises to work his fitness and strength to his highest level.

After every exercise and during a racing weekend it is important Leon carries out vital stretching routines. Stretching is very often something people neglect to do at the end of a training session. It’s a very important aspect of Leon’s training plan as it improves the muscle balance around the joint, which improves posture. It reduces the chance of injury during racing/cycling/gym work. It also increases the blood and nutrient supply to the muscles and cartilage, therefore reducing muscle soreness after training.

Generally on a Wednesday and a Friday Leon has a sports massage ensuring his muscles aren’t over stretched and that he’s fully relaxed for when he next goes out to train. It’s important that riders look after their bodies and essential to have massages as it helps any niggling injuries and keeps the muscles loose to prevent any unwanted injuries.

It’s a pretty hectic schedule but important for Leon to keep on top of it to allow him to be the top of his game every weekend.

Commenting Leon said “Julian has been a huge help to me this year and I’d like to thank him for that. He’s pointed me in the right direction and helped me focus myself on certain targets. It definitely keeps me busy during the week but a feel a lot better for it. I’m really looking forward to Brands, it’s my home circuit and one that I really enjoy riding. I hope we can ‘Kick Up A Gear’ in all three races and get some good results for the Airwaves Yamaha Team.”

Brands Hatch – 7th – 8th August.

 

Please see Leon’s video player here

http://www.bikechannel.com/camier/index.html

Thanks

Well, Mallory, for sure it was certainly noted down as a ‘random’ weekend. Once again my Mallory jinx continued but somehow it all turned around on the Sunday but by very strange circumstances. I left the weekend with a 75.5 point lead from my team-mate James and I gained a second and first in the two races.

However, I didn’t have much track time over the weekend, my number one bike was very poorly and needed some TLC. This left me with the trusty Superstock bike for Friday morning, I went out just to get a feel for the track on a Yamaha. The boys were working frantically on my number one bike and I managed to get out on Saturday afternoon for qualifying and put the old girl on pole. A relief after what had happened so far over the weekend.

There is something about that track that doesn’t seem to like me, my last win there was in 2004 for Padgetts in Supersport but even then I’d crashed in qualifying which put me on crutches with a groin strain. I was quite looking forward to Sunday night and putting the weekend behind me but I still had the races to contend with.

I got a fairly good start but Harris sat up which knocked off Richard Cooper, causing me to come to a complete standstill and then have to ride around Richard and after the opening lap I was 24th. Just my luck and I thought my bad luck at Mallory was continuing. I dug deep and the only passing place that really worked for me was into Edwina’s. I was lying in eighth and about 0.5 quicker than the bunch in front of me, I was eager to catch them to see where I could end up.

On lap 22 I came round to the Hairpin and it was utter carnage, there were bikes and riders everywhere. I cruised round trying to miss everything and the fluid on the track and as I didn’t know what was happening I crossed the line, by the time I reached the first corner the red flags came out. I pulled into the pits and was sat in the garage thinking about my result when the organisers came in and told me I was second and James had won.

For me that was a bit of a strange feeling as I was eighth on the track but somehow I’d been given second, I begrudgingly went to the podium as that’s what we were told to do but I didn’t feel right getting the award. Rules are rules and Stuart Higgs made a very tough decision which caused a bit of friction in the pits. It would have been nice to see Simon win it, he’s a good mate of mine. It’s all very odd but that’s racing I guess.

The second race, well the second race was wet, very wet and was stopped at half distance and with it still raining Stuart called it a result and we were all awarded half points. To be fair Stuart (Higgs) had a very tough day on Sunday and made some good and difficult decisions, I can’t imagine it’s easy doing the job he does and glad sometimes I’m just the rider as I only have to made decisions about my bike and which lines to take!!

I’ve not really had much wet time on the Airwaves Yamaha but once again we kicked up a gear and I managed to take win number 11. In all fairness that Airwaves Yamaha felt absolutely mega in the wet but I think I’ll stick to dry races from now on (please!!)! Considering the problems we had the Airwaves team once again did a brilliant job and thankfully come race day, all be it with a bit of luck we managed to turn it all around and carry on with good results.

Brands Hatch is next for us and I can’t wait, it’s one of my favourite circuits and the long track to ride is really good fun. I’m looking forward to getting back out there and getting some more good results until then I’m training and chilling out! I am glad Mallory is out of the way I have to say!

Thanks for everyone who stayed to watch in the pouring rain, hard core British Superbike fans!

Cheers

Leon #2

Blimey it’s been a hectic few weeks, I don’t feel like my feet have touched the floor, technically that’s a lie as they were very much in contact with the ground when I crashed at Craner’s – more about that later though. Where do I start, I went from Snetterton pretty much straight to Donington World Supers and then from then up to sunny Knockhill.

I was extremely excited about racing at the World Superbike round at Donington Park and with my run of good luck this year there was going to be a point where it ran out, of all the places it ran out it was at Donington! Friday practice was a good day and I was mixing it with the top boys at the top end of the time sheets, even in the wet my times were good. Everything felt great and I was really looking forward to put in a good lap time during qualifying to get through to the Superpole session. Spies is super quick and soon got to grips once again with the Donington track and he was putting in some very quick times.

I was eager in first qualifying on Saturday morning and keen to put on a good show, perhaps a little too eager and keen. I was up on my time into the first corner and then in a single moment I was down at Craner Curves, man it was fast and within a split second I was sliding down the grass. I was watching the bike and all was ok with a bit of fairing damage until it decided to dig itself into a rut, which spat it about 6ft up in the air and it landed nose end and squashed my poor Airwaves Yamaha. I sat there for a minute and did a check on the body to make sure everything was functioning, thankfully it was but I wasn’t looking forward to going back to explain to Col and the boyz that the bike wasn’t looking so well.

Fair play to the lads as they ‘Kicked Up a Gear’ and worked all hours of the night to get the bike fixed. However, this did leave me a slight problem as my spare bike was pretty much a stock bike and this is what I’d have to use during the Superpole session. As much as I tried I could only salvage 17th place and was out of Superpole in the first part of the three sessions. I was gutted but it is what it is and that’s what I had to get used to and accept that I would have to get a good start, with my track records on starts this also posed a problem!!

I sat there on the grid, did a few TV interviews and interview with Larry Carter but my main focus was that first corner! Well the lights changed and I was swallowed into the pack and was 21st into Redgate – perfect! I had to really dig deep and my bike felt very different after the re-build and I was having some major problems with my brakes, I battled through to 13th, I wasn’t overly happy with that result but from 17th it wasn’t too bad.

I definitely wanted to get a better start in race two and try and get through the pack better, so where was I in turn one – yep 22nd! Not the start I was looking for! There was a point in the race where in two laps a number of the top boys were crashing out left, right and centre, this helped my cause but I had to remain focused. I could see Kiyo and James (Ellison) in front of me and I just had to dig deep as I really wanted a creditable result for myself and also the Airwaves Yamaha team who worked so hard for me over the weekend. I managed to get sixth by the end of the race which I was fairly pleased with but it boggled the mind with if’s, but’s and maybe’s!

From Donington I had to go back down south for a day then we headed up to the Rathmell household on Tuesday night, Mrs God (Rhoda Rathmell) had prepared Storks and I a feast, I ate so much I thought I was going to be sick! The next day I treated myself to a new toy from the Rathmell warehouse and got myself a big wheeled Monty trick bicycle – I can see hours of fun on this and perhaps a few crashes!

My new toy took my mind off the drive up to Glasgow for Superbikes in the Square. James and I got to ride the Pirelli bikes around the square in front of the fans, it was a good day and luckily the weather held out. The next minor trip on the horizon was from Glasgow to Knockhill, a simple journey for most, not for us. Some how we ended up doing a detour in the motorhome into Edinburgh – big mistake! We finally got to the track and get set up and had some tea at hospitality.

GSE have never won a race around Knockhill, in fact on paper it’s their worst track for good results so I knew I needed to pull something special out the bag for the team this weekend and thankfully I did just that by taking the double win. Col was peaking with his first ever wins at the Scottish track and it was a nice Birthday present for me to give to Darryl Healey! Things once again were perfect and the Airwaves boys did a fantastic job, I didn’t get pole position but thought it’d be kind to share it with Brooksey, no seriously he put in some super fast laps and fully deserved it! Having followed and watched him and Stuart Easton over the weekend I knew if I was going to win I’d have to make a break early on in the race as they both had great pace and their bikes are super quick!

For once, I actually impressed myself as in both races I got good starts which I was happy with, not the hole shot but a good start never-the-less lol! I made the move in both races as soon as I possibly could, Brooksey put up a good fight in race two but I finally managed to get past him. I would like to thank the Airwaves Yamaha team and all my personal sponsors for all their support and even though people are thinking the season is either easy or boring, trust me for me it’s not, I’ve had to work extremely hard and will continue to do so for the remainder of the season.

I’m up at Fort William at the minute having a look at the downhill mountain bike course…..We have a weekend off now then back racing at Mallory. Not a track I’ve done so well at the last few years but hopefully I’ll be able to change that this year.

Thanks to everyone again for all their messages on my website. It’s much appreciated.

See you at Mallory

Cheers Leon #2

I’ve got another really busy schedule ahead of me, I’ve just got back from Snetterton and once again it was a great weekend and I got the double win. I’m just taking each race as it comes and taking nothing for granted so each win means as much as the last to me. The fun and games began once again on Thursday and the troops went out for dinner, this week joining Storks, Smarls and I was joined by James and his wife Sarah, her sister Alex who is over from Texas and Baywatch Brogan. We headed to the Chinese that we found last year and obviously it was a very quiet and sedate meal lol!

Brogie was nominated driver and on the way back we had to do our weekly shop, however, it took us around half an hour to find a supermarket that was actually open! I forget my bedding, (again!) so now I’ve a nice collection of duvets and pillows building up at home. We got back to the track around 11, I shouted on Smarls to make the bed up for me, being a bloke it’s not my forte!

First practice went well and we were just had to make a few changes to the bike to suit the ultra fast Snetterton circuit and then we just aimed at getting some laps in under our belt. By the end of the day the boyz had managed to get the Airwaves Yamaha dialled in and I was looking forward to qualifying on Saturday. I needed my wallet on Friday afternoon and to my horror it has vanished (lost/stolen I don’t know!), I have no idea where it is so if any of you picked it up or found it and you are feeling generous enough to send it back to me then please do as it does come in useful to have a wallet!!

Saturday proved interesting as we knew rain was due, and up until Snetterton we’d always had a dry Roll for Pole session. I went out in session one and put in some laps in and I could see it was getting darker and the rain was coming. In the second part I went early and pushed for a quick lap, towards the end of that session it was drizzling and I was sitting P1. The team managers were called into a meeting to decide what to do and it was agreed the third session would be cancelled and the qualifying grid would go from session two, which gave me an unexpectedly early pole position.

I didn’t get the best of starts in race one and I was fourth after the first lap, I just made a big mistake at Russell’s and went across the grass at the end of lap two when the red flag came out due to a rider’s bike dropping oil. We were due a quick restart and I lined up in fourth place on the grid, I got a good start but got the door shut in my face into turn one. I was eighth after the opening lap and new I had my work cut out as it’s a fast track with not many places to pass.

It took me 14 laps to get to the front as I had to try and pick off a rider each lap and each time I seemed to find a different place to pass them. I managed to get past Rutter, Andrews, Lowry, Walker and Brooksey by lap eight and I was left with my team-mate James and Stuart Easton to try and have a battle with for the lead. I didn’t want to make any daft moves so had to plan each right, Stuart’s Honda is rapid and with him being so little he was super fast down the back straight and seemed a pull a bit of a gap. Once I got to the front I just got my head down and headed for the chequered flag but it was definitely a hard race.

In the second race my start wasn’t so bad and I was soon in second place and having a battle with Brooksey for the lead. His bike is quick and he had a good line so it was all about timing and where I may be able to make a break past him, I managed to pass him into the last chicane on lap five. For the remaining laps I just wanted to break away from the chasing pack as I knew a few of them were showing really good pace from the opening race.

I took my third double win of the season and it’s a great feeling, there is still such a long way to go yet though and I just need to keep battling hard and fighting for each win. I have Donington World Superbikes this weekend, James and I have a wild card ride on the Airwaves Yamaha, and if there was ever a time for me to ‘Kick Up A Gear’ it’s this weekend at Doni. I’m very excited and can’t wait to get out there with the World Superbike boys and see how we fare. I’m eager to get there and get going and see what the outcome is, hopefully a positive one, bring it on I say!

For old times sake we’ll be going for a Chinese with Shakey, Petra and Reggie so it’ll be good to catch up with my old team-mate and after his mega result in Misano who knows what the weekend will bring. It’s not going to be easy but I’m up for the challenge!

Straight after Donington I’m heading north to stay with Malcolm and Rhoda Rathmell, another mountain bike and trials sessions is planned and then straight to Knockhill on the Tuesday night/Wednesday morning for Superbikes in the Square – it’s all go but I can’t wait!

Hope to see you at Donington, give the Airwaves boys some support and come and say hello if you’re in the paddock. We need lots of support this weekend so come and cheer us on!

Thanks again for all your messages on my website, much appreciated.

Cheers

Leon #2

Training Days in B’Town!
www.leoncamier.com

Visk British Superbike Championship leader Leon Camier continued his training schedule this week in preparation for round five at Snetterton. Camier rounded up the troops, which included Josh Brookes, MX rider Kristian Whatley, Supersport rider Dan Linfoot, Leon’s manager Andy Walker (Storka) and Leon and Kristian’s trainer Julian Clark.

Storka arranged a two day intensive training session in Bournemouth and invited Dan Linfoot down from Yorkshire to put him through his paces in the run up to Snetterton. On day one, the group participated in a 35-mile mountain bike ride around the New Forest, followed by a relaxing evening at Andy’s house in the Hot Tub and some good food at the local Italian, Topogio. (Leon’s favourite!)

Day two, Tuesday was action packed. Starting the day having a play on the Monty’s with Storka and Brooksey leading the way on how it should be done (or not in Storka’s case, suffering a big crash). Next up was the trials bikes and once again this is a fine art to master for the road racers in the group…..!

After a cycle ride down the beach the riders wound down with some stretching exercises before heading up to the MX track. This was Dan’s first time on a MX track and so he was just given the opportunity to have a steady ride round and get a feel for the MX bike and how it works. Leon wanted to show Dan that by using others forms of bikes to keep fit puts every different muscle through its paces, be it cycling, trials or MX and how much each can build on fitness and improve their racing on the track.

Brooksey and Kristian were in their element on the MX bikes and led the way, and left the others in ore whilst they threw out some big moves. Leon, had to stand on the sidelines for this one and watch the others play as he has three big weekends coming up with Snetterton, the wild card ride at Donington World Superbikes then Knockhill.

Julian Clark was once again instrumental to all the riders showing them what can be done to improve their body and fitness techniques by using different methods and strategies.

Dan left in the evening for the long drive back to Yorkshire, but the Yorkshire trek is already planned for the week before Knockhill, where Dan will be back out on the mountain bikes and trials bikes again with Leon and Storka in another fitness challenge.

Leon Camier is keen to help a young rider progress and has been watching Dan for most of the season commenting, “Dan’s a good lad, I’ve been watching his progress in the British Supersport Championship closely and I want to help a rider progress through the ranks. We got Dan down to Bournemouth to see how he trains and how he got on, he did a good job and hopefully this will continue as the season progresses. I’m trying to help as much as I can at the races with Dan, helping him with lines on the track and also helping him prepare for the race. He’s young and eager and it would be nice to see him get a good result at Snetterton.”

Dan’s version of events will follow after Snetterton……