Camier: Red Bull Honda finds electronics gains, now needs more power

Leon Camier has been buoyed by the progress Red Bull Honda has produced with its new electronics package but is eager for the team to deliver more power to catch its World Superbike rivals.

The British rider enjoyed a problem-free race weekend for the first time since his nasty injury sustained at Aragon, in which he suffered three broken ribs, as he secured a pair of top 10 finishes at his home round at Donington Park including a confidence-boosting eighth place in race two.

Camier says another key positive from his home round was the progress and information the team has stacked up on its new Magneti Marelli electronics package having made the permanent switch away from Cosworth at the start of the European chunk of the season in early April.

Particular focus was given to refining the traction control on the Honda Fireblade which Camier feels will provide performance gains at all circuits.

“I think the biggest thing has been understanding where the electronics are at and try to develop them how I want,” Camier said. “I feel in one weekend we’ve made massive progress as we’ve spent a lot of time on the computer trying to pinpoint everything and trying to make everything as accurate as possible by changing the shape of how the traction control works.

“It is really detailed stuff but we’ve made some good progress and I am really happy with it. I still think there is some room to improve with the traction control but in general it was working well.

“I think a little bit will work for everywhere. I think the more detailed I can be means my electronics guys can understand exactly how I want it and can compare it.

“When we go to Brno it probably won’t start that much better but they can get it better quicker and then come up with better setting sooner, that’s the plan, the thing we’ve got to do now is try to develop the way the traction control works a bit and the way it cuts it and doesn’t kill it too much in the right areas.

“It is hard to be accurate with it and it needs laps and laps for the technicians to set it up well. Now they know what I am looking for so I think they can do it.”

With Camier relishing his chance to put into practice Red Bull Honda’s electronics gains next time out at Brno, while also having another two weeks to progress with his injury recovery, the British rider feels the next essential step will be an engine upgrade to deliver more power.

“When I see the Kawasakis on track there is so much acceleration and so much punch off of the turns,” he said. “It’s where we are lacking and where they are really strong. I hope we get more horsepower.”

Red Bull Honda’s power deficit could be shrunk if World Superbike rule makers opt to make engine rev limit changes before the next round in Brno.

The new technical regulations on rev limits dictates adjustments can be made to any manufacturer, either increased or decreased at a maximum of 250RPM, every three rounds based on a computer algorithm. Series organisers are yet to confirm what rev limit changes, if any, will be installed for round seven at the Czech Republic circuit.