01/17/2021 |
David Miller |
WorldSBK
Image: GeeBee Images
Brit Leon Camier was announced today as the new HRC WorldSBK team manager, but the new and massive job means he has to leave behind what he has done in the single digits since his age – and he freely admits that the decision to Finishing the race was the toughest he’d ever had to do.
The former British Superbike champion has been on the injured list for two years. Although he has been able to ride motocross, enduro, and almost everything else due to the difficult shoulder, he cannot reach the pace required to continue in WorldSBK.
The decision whether to stop and think about other ways to keep the Andorran wolf out of the door was sped up a bit when Camier received a call from HRC MotoGP boss Alberto Puig asking if he would like to lead the WorldSBK team . It didn’t take long to think about it, but it will be a big task.
“Our superbike project is so big. So you don’t have to rely on doing it all. My responsibilities at this stage are probably a little less than many other team managers, ”Camier told bicypsportnews.com.
“But the idea is that my responsibility will increase in the future. HRC knows me from the team, they thought I was good at my job and that’s great. Of course I still have a lot to learn.
It’s a completely different role, but I think there are many positive aspects. I’ve been on many different teams and have a lot of experience in WorldSBK. This is a relatively new team. It’s still a new bike. It’s got a year ahead of it, but it’s not a normal season with normal testing time and so on, but it’s a really new situation for everyone.
“So we will work to build the situation that we believe will be competitive for the future. I know the rules and all the people in the championship. I know the riders and how things work technically with the bike and the tires.
“Already in the first few meetings I had the feeling that there are things I can try to help with. I think the reason a rider can jump into that position and help out right away is because they know the racing environment from many angles. But there are sure to be many other things that I have to learn. “
Despite being able to ride in a tough enduro with the likes of Jonny Walker this week, Camier can’t get what he wants on the track – his shoulder is still not where it needs to be, and this formed one big part of it was the decision to quit.
“I can feel it most of the time when I’m doing things, but it doesn’t really affect me with anything. I’ve ridden enduro, motocross and trials. It’s just the road racing position that is causing problems.
“The doctors are pretty confident and I’m pretty confident it’s a trapped nerve. It’s definitely fixable, but I think I just lost the fun of running. Obviously there is a lot of stress and pressure associated with it. For me, the only reason I do this is when I have the potential to be competitive, when I feel like I can try to win or get to the point where I win races.
When I see the potential to move forward and hop on a competitive bike, however, I’ve lost a bit of hope if you’d like. Lots of injuries in recent years. I lost the massive desire I had before to keep burying myself.
“From the outside everything looks glamorous and whatever, but the reality is very different. There is a lot of stress, a lot of pressure, and massive commitment to sacrificing everything around you to try to be the best in the world.
“It’s not easy to try to stay at this top level or to be the best in the world. I lost that motivation for it through everything that happened.
“It really is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make to actually call it a day. And even though I wasn’t in a good place, I was over it in my head. In my head, a big part of me thinks that I’m not done yet. I still feel like I can give more. If my body was perfect, I would still feel like I was competitive. There is sure to be a big element of that. But at the same time life goes on, doesn’t it? Life goes on. “
There have been some rumors of Camier returning to the UK Superbike paddock in 2021 and the 6ft 2in Kent man doesn’t deny he had it as an option, but then Puig really took it out of his hands. However, there will be no test assignment.
“Do I want to keep burying myself and give everything I have? There is a point where it has to stop. If I don’t see the chance to be competitive on a competitive bike, if I don’t see a way to get on a bike in a team that can win, then that doesn’t matter to me.
I don’t really want to go on with it. I was thinking of BSB. It was a tough consideration for me. I know how good the championship is, how fast the drivers are and how good the championship as a whole is. I’ve been thinking about it, but at the same time I’ve had a difficult couple of years so I felt like I needed a change.
“I would have liked to keep going, to be honest. It would have been nice to do something like test or whatever just to have my hand in hand. But it is what it is. I’m going to do some enduro and bike races and some things that I enjoy. I’m not that good to be honest, but I really enjoy it because I’ve seen the progress and there is no pressure.
“I feel like I have had an amazing career. I didn’t realize my dream of becoming world champion, but I’ve got a lot of championships along the way since I started racing at the age of six. There are only two championships that I’ve competed in full-time that I couldn’t win.
“One was the Super Teens Championship, where I finished third overall, and the other was WorldSBK. All the other championships I have won were the youngest drivers to win at that time. All in all, I am very grateful and proud of what I have achieved.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my career. Without her it would have been impossible for me to pursue my dream. The list is too long to post here but people know who they are.
“Also a big thank you to all the fans who believed in me and supported me throughout my career. You make a difference.”