Honda HRC Leon Camier
Possibly no-one else was as surprised as Leon Camier when the former BSB champion and nine-times WorldSBK podium finisher faced a dilemma at the end of 2020 . The latest of too many seasons dogged by bad luck and a niggling shoulder injury was a tough time for Camier . And then he got offered the HRC WorldSBK Team Manager ’ s job . Still learning all aspects of his new career path as he is , Leon has a lot of help to ease him into his new role . But in WorldSBK racing he is a veteran , having arrived in WorldSBK in 2010 on a factory Aprilia after winning the BSB title for Yamaha a year earlier . WorldSBK experience was called for after a tough 2020 for HRC ’ s new WorldSBK full-on effort and Camier has more years in the paddock than most . Especially for him , just finishing a racing career through injury , becoming Team Manager , especially directly for HRC , was not ever a plan . He just suddenly got a phone call from HRC GP controller Alberto Puig to offer him the WorldSBK job . “ It was 10.30 at night , I was on the turbo trainer bicycle in my house . I remember thinking , ‘ this is weird …’ Anyway , I asked for a couple of days to think about it .” It was a straight offer to be team Manager . HRC Team Manager . Blimey !… As people from Leon ’ s native county of Kent might say . Leon said yes , of course , and was more than ready for a change after so many years of bad luck and a niggling shoulder injury , “ I got to point personally where I had been in such a bad place for such a long time that it wore me down . The reality of it , now I have a bit of perspective on it , is that
I was burnt out . Completely . Mentally – done . I had not slept well for two years . Just through pain and stress . So I was wondering what to do . To make that decision to stop is bigger than anything you can ever , ever imagine .” Camier ’ s sudden promotion from ex-rider to Team Manager behind the iconic Honda Racing Corporation brand makes him the real ‘ odd one out ’ even among the group of five Team Managers profiled in this feature . Right now he is learning his new role ‘ on the job ’ as it were . “ They have set it up really well , because we have Jordi Arquet who was a Team Manager in Moto3 for many years and won the championship , and we work really closely together ,” explained Leon . “ I have a lot to learn but it is a surprisingly quite natural progression – because of the help of having Jordi here to be honest .” Camier describes the specifics of his job thus . “ My side is in a more technical role , trying to oversee performance . My job title is Team Manager and it involves overseeing everything , but I am focusing more on the technical and sporting side at the minute .” Honda clearly wanted Camier , presenting him with instant opportunity and responsibility in equal measure . One particular aspect was a draw for Camier right away . “ The attractiveness of it was that for many years you are struggling to go forward with performance ,” said Leon . “ As a rider you are kept out of the loop a lot and you always think that things could be better . Why is this not done ? Why is that not done ? I feel now I can try to go in and do those things . I can see it from both sides already in this role .” A new boy in the biggest Team Manager ’ s schoolyard , Camier ’ s progress in his new role will be as fascinating to watch as it was surprising to hear about when he got the job in the first .
Leon Camier
56