Leon Camier gave his chances of securing a full-time ride with Aprilia Racing in 2010 a significant boost with an impressive double top ten finish at the World Superbike season finale in Portugal.

Competing in his second event with the Italian team, although Camier's debut at Magny-Cours didn't go entirely to plan following a mechanical failure induced double DNF, he showed signs of improvement from the off around the unfamiliar Portimao circuit.

Qualifying 13th, three positions higher than he managed in France, Camier made swift progress in both races, showing 'aggression' in a bid to make up positions.

It was a successful strategy, Camier ending the weekend with a sixth and seventh place finish, ahead of several more experienced competitors. For reference, Camier's predecessor, Shinya Nakano, managed to score more points over a weekend just once this season.

“I gave it my all in both races," said Camier, “and we achieved two good placements. In Race one I started off well and during the first three laps I was very aggressive while trying to recover positions, I made a few mistakes but they helped me to better understand the bike and to ride it better.

“In race two I was much less aggressive, I immediately set a good pace and I made fewer errors. I'm happy about how things went also because at the end of the races I was able to hold off competitors that have much more experience than me."

Camier's performance is likely to have improved his chances of getting the last available factory-backed seat on the 2010 World Superbike grid, particularly as the new British Superbike Champion will remain in Portugal to ride with Aprilia during the two-day post-season test.