Camier Turning Japanese Suzuka Eight-Hour – 31st July 2005 18-year-old Ashford based rider Leon Camier returned from the tough Endurance race in Japan yesterday having successfully completed the Suzuka Eight-Hour Race and with his team-mate Naoki Matsudo they gained an impressive 15th place finish from 70 qualified teams. Riding for Moriwaki Honda the pairing were a strong force to be reckoned with, qualifying in 10th position on the grid the two were set for a strong result. In the pre race testing temperatures soared to a huge 40 degrees C with track temperatures hitting 60 degrees C over the course of the week. Camier had to adjust himself to the excessive heat and also the time differences. He was only 0.04 of a second off the qualifying time of World Superbike Star Chris Vermeulen proving that he can certainly run amongst the best riders in the World. Typically during the race the heavens opened and in the third hour the rain was coming down extremely heavy on the Japanese Circuit. Whilst lying in third position overall Camier touched the wet white line which saw him slide off into the gravel. Fortunately he was able to pick up the Honda and carry on back to the pits to repair the damage. The team dropped down to 46th position before clambering their way back through the field to gain a very creditable 15th place. Commenting, Camier said “It’s one of the best experiences of my racing career so far and something I will not forget. I was given a fantastic opportunity and I am extremely grateful for this chance. I met some incredible people out there who gained my respect and admiration. I must specially thank the whole Moriwaki Team, Midori the Team Manager was a fantastic help and encouraged me throughout the week and couldn’t have done enough for me. I felt extremely bad for crashing out and losing the opportunity of a podium finish, it was my first time that I had ridden a thousand in the rain as well as trying to dice with slower riders, I was just caught out. “The team could not have been more professional, more helpful or more informative than what they were. I’m so happy that I got the chance to ride with them and would like to think that they might invite me back next year. Physically I felt fine throughout the race although I was suffering with pain in my feet. I have learnt so much from the whole trip and hope I can rely what I have learnt in Japan back into my racing in the UK for the rest of the season.” Camier’s next outing will be at Silverstone British Superbike meeting (21st August) where he will be hoping to extend his lead in the British Supersport Championship.