Leon Camier produced a stunning qualifying performance in the eni FIM Superbike World Championship at Donington Park yesterday afternoon.
The Ashford born rider will start from the second row of the grid for the first of the home races for him and the team, as he put his FIXI Crescent Suzuki in fifth position on the grid.
With the conditions not proving helpful in free practice on Friday, Saturday was a totally different day with the sun shining and Camier made the pace of his Suzuki count.
Fifth represents the Brits best qualifying result so far this season, and ensures that he is right in amongst the front runners again fighting for victory as the races get underway.
He came agonisingly close to securing a front row position as well, missing out by just 0.238 seconds, it is even more impressive given that he was almost as quick on the compound tyres as he was with the qualifying tyre that he used in the Superpole three.
Unfortunately for Camier’s team mate Jules Cluzel he couldn’t join him in Superpole three and will start today’s races from 11th place on the grid but certainly in with a shout of scoring some good points.
Tom Sykes underlined his pace and title credentials by clocking up his fourth consecutive pole position. He is joined on the front row by Sylvain Guintoli and Eugene Laverty with fellow Brit Jonathan Rea in fourth place.
Giving his reaction to qualifying a satisfied Camier said: “I’m a little bit frustrated because the normal strengths that we have are holding me back a bit this weekend. That front-end feeling on turning-in and then braking just isn’t quite there and this is usually a strong point for us, so we need to work on that to get it right tomorrow.
“Overall everything feels ok and if we can get it that little bit better should be a lot stronger for the races. It’s going to be tough tomorrow, because so many guys are doing similar lap-times and although it will be good to start nearer the front, as I said it will be difficult, so we’ll just have to get involved with the front group and see what happens.”
Camier and Cluzel will be looking to put on a good show in front of the team’s home crowd today as the pair battle it out in with the rest of the World Superbike field in the two 23-lap races, the first of which is scheduled to get underway at midday.