Leon Camier gives up racing to become Honda WorldSBK team manager

Leon Camier has been named the new team manager for Team HRC Honda effort in the WorldSBK Championship after opting for a career change in the wake of debilitating injuries.

The Briton was on track as recently as 12 months ago when he was due to compete with the Barni Racing Ducati team but ongoing issues with a shoulder injury sustained in 2019 forced him to miss the opening rounds before he was dropped by the Italian outfit.

With Camier speculating a few months ago that he may be forced to quit racing altogether, he has now been given the chance to shine in a managerial role with Honda, which returned to WorldSBK in a full factory capacity last year.

Marking a return to Honda for Camier, who competed with the erstwhile Ten Kate Racing/Moriwaki squad in 2018 and 2019, he is delighted to be given a fresh opportunity.

“I’ve been a Honda rider for several seasons during my career and I’m now very happy and proud to be back with the company for what is a major change in my professional and personal life. 

“I thank Honda for the trust they have put in me - the WorldSBK project is very important and the new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade looks absolutely great. I’m prepared to work hard to achieve our goals; I always did so as a rider and I will continue in the same way as Team Manager.

“Having raced in SBK® for many years, I know the championship and its challenges very well, although the current period further exacerbates these issues. 

“But in working alongside two very strong riders like Alvaro and Leon, and such a professional group of people as Team HRC and the HRC engineers, I am confident we’ll be able to reach our full potential and fight for top results. 

“We now have two days of testing at Jerez, it will be my first opportunity to work with the team and I really look forward to starting this new and exciting adventure.”

Though many consider Camier to have never entirely fulfilled his potential on the WorldSBK stage with nine podiums from 172 starts across Aprilia, Suzuki, Honda, BMW and MV Agusta machinery, he did clinch the 2009 British Superbike Championship with a dominant 19 wins from 26 starts.

Honda’s return to WorldSBK with the new Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade yielded one podium, with Camier overseeing Leon Haslsm and Alvaro Bautista - both of whom he is younger than - for 2021.