Leon Camier made a return to the saddle today and what a return it was for the Kent rider that injured his knee just two weeks ago.

Not only was Camier cleared to ride in free practice one today, but later on he was cleared for the race weekend and managed to make sure he is in qualifying two tomorrow.

As the eni FIM Superbike World Championship headed to Assen in Holland this weekend it wasn’t clear whether Leon would be fit to ride but he soon dispelled those fears.

In treacherous conditions the Ashford racer showed that he really is one of the quickest riders on two wheels posting the 8^th quickest time in free practice session.

This meant that when he was into qualifying one and in with a great shout of challenging the front few rows of the grid again.

In the first qualifying round he managed to put his bike in the top ten and ensure that he is safely through to qualifying two and with a great chance of being involved in the Superpole tomorrow.

Leon is due to undergo further treatment this evening ahead of tomorrow’s session and Sunday’s races, to ensure he is in the best possible shape to compete.

Speaking after the first qualifying session, a delighted Camier, said: “I’m happy that I can ride, but after about three of four laps my knee stiffens up and feels like it’s blocked and it becomes really painful in the wet. I didn’t have a particularly good feeling with the bike today, but maybe I was a bit stiff and not quite riding how I need to.

“I think that in the dry the feeling in my knee will be a bit worse, but I’ve got to take it as it comes and hopefully it will loosen off a bit more. We’ve still got about a day-and-a-half before the race, so I’ve got time for it to improve. Hopefully when race-day comes I can do the distance.”

His teammate Jules Cluzel was also in great form, despite the fact that he has never ridden the Suzuki in full wet conditions like there were in Assen today.

Indeed in qualifying one he was right there with the top riders and managed the eighth fastest time of the day, to ensure that he is also through to qualifying two tomorrow, making it a very successful day for the Fixi Crescent Suzuki team.

Giving his reaction after qualifying one, Jules said: “I am very happy with the day; I was a little bit nervous because it was the first time in full wet conditions on the FIXI Crescent Suzuki. I did about five-laps in Jerez in the test in the wet, but the grip was completely different and it wasn’t raining then. In the worst condition today the feeling was good, so that is a positive thing, last year in Supersport the grip was not as good and it wasn’t as comfortable.

“I had a good rhythm and pace today and didn’t make any mistakes so this is good for my confidence. Tomorrow looks like being a sunny day, so things will be better. Today was a bit of an interrogation for me to see how I could ride in the wet and I am happy with how everything went, because I know I am better in the wet at other tracks, so I think if it rains at those circuits we can go well.

“It was good to have Leon back on track today, he didn’t look totally comfortable, but he is here and it’s good for the team to have him riding again.”

The conditions for all the riders during the sessions today were truly awful and it was a test for all of the riders. Brit Tom Sykes was once again the man to beat in terms of the fastest times much as he was in the last round.

The only real sour note was the unfortunate injury suffered by fellow British rider Leon Haslam, he crashed out during the morning practice session. He was taken straight to hospital in Assen where he was diagnosed with a double fracture of his left leg.
There was one relieved man to see both his riders come through unscathed and seeing his riders producing some good lap times in the poor weather conditions, and that was Team Manager Paul Denning.

He said: “We have accomplished everything we wanted to here on the first day at Assen, despite horrendous weather conditions. Both riders are safely in the top-10, we had no crashes in the treacherous conditions and we gathered a lot of data to help with the setting of the GSX-R for tomorrow.”

“Leon has done an absolutely amazing job to be here, and without question it’s a very painful exercise to ride the bike, but he’s gritting his teeth and will be doing his best to achieve something positive over the weekend. Equally, Jules has done a sterling job today. It was his first real time on the Superbike in fully wet conditions and he has been competitive with the fastest group of riders all day long.

“I’d like to say thank-you once again to Damian Cudlin for being here at Assen as a reserve rider. It’s been a pleasure to have him around, he knew that Leon was going to try and ride before the weekend started, and he has been totally professional in his short time with the team. I hope we get the chance to work with him again sometime in the future.

“On behalf of the all at FIXI Crescent Suzuki, I’d also like to send our best wishes to Leon Haslam for a quick recovery following his accident today. We hope he gets well soon and makes a fast return to the WSB field.”

Both Leon and Jules will be out on track tomorrow morning in qualifying two, making sure they are in the top 15 so that they can be in the Superpole session in the afternoon.