Camier reveals unchanged Red Bull Honda livery

New Red Bull Honda rider Leon Camier has revealed the team will run an unchanged livery for the 2018 World Superbike championship as he gears up for pre-season testing.

Camier makes the switch from MV Agusta to the Ten Kate Racing-run factory Honda squad this year and is joined by World Superbike rookie Jake Gagne who made three appearances as a replacement rider for the Honda squad last year.

With the British rider’s wealth of eight years in the World Superbike paddock having competed for Aprilia, Suzuki, BMW and MV Agusta, Camier is expected to lead the Red Bull Honda charge for the upcoming season with the new Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 after its difficult maiden campaign in the series in 2017.

Camier revealed the team's unchanged bike livery from the previous season as it retains Red Bull backing for 2018.

Today was what do you think? pic.twitter.com/ypc4HA9MDF

— Leon Camier (@leoncamier) January 19, 2018

The new World Superbike technical regulations which have been introduced to provide manufacturer parity, including rev limiters and development freezes on successful teams, are predicted to boost Honda’s charge having finished last in the World Superbike Manufacturers’ championship standings last season.

Camier also gave encouraging signs during the Jerez test in November while getting to grips with the 2017-specifcaiton Fireblade and both Red bull Honda riders are expected to debut Honda’s new Magneti Marelli electronics package at the first pre-season test which is hoped to provide a more rider-friendly power delivery.

“I feel what we’ve got it is interesting, but we’ll see where the limit is because they need to give me what I want, which isn’t easy,” Camier said at the Jerez test in November. “My feeling at the minute is it’s not so much engine, I could be wrong, but my impression is the electronics.

“If we can get the electronics doing what I want, and if we put Magneti Marelli on it and it’s exactly the same then you go okay perhaps it is the engine. We’ll see, I’ve been wrong before.

“The biggest thing that’s happened is working on the power delivery. It has been the biggest thing I keep changing and they can’t believe how aggressive I’ve got the thing compared to everyone else who has ridden it but I want more.”

Red Bull Honda joins the majority for the 2018 World Superbike teams at Jerez for the first pre-season test of the new year on the 23-24 January before heading on to Portimao for a second test on the 28-29 January.

Phillip Island will host the traditional final pre-season test (19-20 February) in preparation for the 2018 World Superbike season opener at the Australian circuit on the 23-25 February.