Leon Camier switches to Honda in WorldSBK

Briton Leon Camier has signed a contract to join Honda’s world superbike team in 2018, where he will ride alongside German Stefan Bradl.

The 31-year-old Andorran-based Camier will be riding the WorldSBK-spec version of the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 after making the switch from MV Agusta, where he has spent the last four seasons.

He will make his official debut for Honda at Phillip Island's season-opening round from February 23-25, 2018.

British superbike champion in 2009, Camier joined WorldSBK on a full-time basis the following year on an Aprilia. He then switched to Suzuki in 2012-13 before a brief flirtation with BMW in the early part of 2014 before beginning his collaboration with MV Agusta.

Said Marco Chini, Honda's WorldSBK Operations Manager: “We’re extremely happy to have Leon on board for the upcoming WorldSBK season. He’s a great talent and an extremely professional rider, so I’m sure it will be a pleasure to work with him.

“We’re confident that his expertise will help us raise the performance of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 to a whole new level so we’re looking forward to the new challenge.

“Right now, however, there’s still a season to complete, so we are fully concentrated on the remaining rounds in order to improve our package and finish the year on a high note.”

This season has been an ‘annus horribilis’ for the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team following the tragic death of American Nicky Hayden in a bicycle crash, while Bradl is currently convalescing after undergoing wrist surgery following a big crash in Portugal.

There are still two rounds to go in the 2017 WorldSBK title – Jerez from October 20-22 and Losail from November 2-4 – although the championship has already been wrapped up by Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea.