Camier’s comeback
Former BSB champion poised for 2020 return?
‘He looks set to play a huge part in a shuffle for 2020 rides’
Former champion Leon Camier, currently lost in the World Superbike wilderness, is tipped for a return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship next season. In fact, the Englishman looks set to play a massive part in a shuffle for rides on the 2020 grid.
The man who triggered BSB’s introduction of The Showdown format following his dominant 2009 season, has failed to win a race since switching to WSB a decade ago and is sick of being at the back of the world stage due to a string of injuries and uncompetitive bikes. Still only 33, Camier has been in discussions with PBM Ducati to replace WSBbound Scott Redding and become team-mate to Josh Brookes, who seems likely to remain on the red bike. Another rider linked to PBM is Bradley Ray, although he could stay with Buildbase Suzuki and be joined by Superstock 1000 Champion Richard Cooper who is tipped to step up to the class. With six months to go until the 2020 season begins, the grid is still nowhere near complete and now is very much the time of year when everyone is talking with everyone. However, several pieces of the jigsaw are already in place: McAMS Yamaha will retain its line-up of Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran on the new 2020 Yamaha R1, which debuted in stock form on Bridgestone slicks in the hands of WSB man Alex Lowes at last week’s press launch at Jerez (see page 32). Oulton Park winner Tommy Bridewell has also recently re-signed with Oxford Racing Ducati while OMG Racing announced last week that Luke Mossey is staying put, too. While MCN can exclusively reveal that the FS-3 team has gone, in just a handful of years, from a two-van amateur squad to the official Kawasaki UK-backed operation having signed a threeyear deal to become Kawasaki’s official team in BSB. Showdown entrant Danny Buchan remains with the team run by Nigel Snook and Darren Fry, while the smart money in terms of a team-mate is on FS-3’s current Superstock 1000 rider Lee Jackson.
JG Speedfit, who won the BSB crown with Leon Haslam last year, will no longer be the official Kawasaki outfit and questions remain over whether the squad will continue in the series at all. And it’s not just Camier who’s being linked with a BSB return. Illustrious names such as Leon Haslam and Jake Dixon are also cropping up in paddock conversation. The smart money is on Haslam remaining in the WSB paddock although a BSB return is not out of the question; the same goes for Dixon who has a deal to continue with the Angel Nieto squad in 2020 in Moto2.
Over at Honda Racing, relations between the Louth-based team and Andrew Irwin have been tested to the max after recent on-track incidents, while Xavi Fores’ name has been linked with a return to World Superbikes, in particular Ten Kate Yamaha. While MCN has also learned that Peter Hickman will remain with the Smiths BMW team for both BSB and the Roads. The world’s fastest road racer and confirmed Showdown contender is understood to have had an option with Tyco, who are the official BMW team. Instead, Glenn Irwin remains linked with Tyco which fits with his ambition to also compete at the Isle of Man TT, although this may only be possible if his current team want to do it. If not, his road racing dreams may have to be placed on hold.