Leon Camier and his Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team completed its mid-season testing programme as the team participated in a private two-day test and the official WorldSBK group test at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.

The team had exclusive use of the 4.6 kilometre Portimão circuit from August 20-21, before regrouping at the circuit for the WorldSBK group test on August 23-25, using the four days of track time to evaluate new development components.

Among the items tested by riders Leon Camier and Jake Gagne were a new engine specification with enhanced driveability, a revised chassis to improve bike balance and a new electronics package.

Camier, still feeling the effects of the injury which forced him out of the Suzuka 8 Hour was still able to set a competitive pace on race tyres and finished eighth quickest at the official WorldSBK test with a best time of 1’42.718, 1.5 seconds off the fastest time. Gagne’s best time was a 1’43.361, placing him 13th overall on the timesheet.

In addition to Camier and Gagne testing for their team, Triple M Honda World Superbike Team rider PJ Jacobsen was drafted in to ride the Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 on the final day of the two-day group test, the American rider finishing with a best time of 1’44.247.

Over the four days of testing, the riders cumulatively completed hundreds of laps of the Portimão circuit in a wide range of track conditions, not only completing the test programme but also acquiring valuable setting data ahead of the upcoming WorldSBK round at the Portuguese circuit from September 14-16.

Speaking after the two day test, Camier said: “With our private test and the two day test at Portimão we definitely made a step forward with the bike. I was still struggling physically at the test following the crash at the Suzuka 8 Hour testing, but we managed to get through everything we planned.

“The new engine spec worked well, as did the new electronics and chassis and overall, I think our pace on race tyres was quite competitive. We’ve made some progress and have a good direction to follow and I’m looking forward to the Portimão round and the rest of the season.”