Shaina interviews… Moriwaki Althea Honda's Leon Camier

13-year-old Indonesian motorcycle racing fan Shaina Salvia returns to speak to Leon Camier at Magny-Cours…

Shaina:

Good to see you after your injury, what kind of practice have you been able to do to be fit to return?

Leon Camier:

A lot, it has been really difficult because it was a complicated injury as in the beginning we didn’t understand how bad it was so all the doctors and experts said I didn’t need an operation. They said take it easy so I started training with two months on full gas to recover to do everything possible, physiotherapy every day, and then I got to two months and tried to ride Supermoto and then I realised I still couldn’t ride and at two months I should have bene able to ride again.

Then we went to see another expert and after more scans it basically showed that the scans were done wrong so I had the extra scans and it came back showing that I needed the operation.

Since then I had the operation, recovery and physiotherapy every day and gym every day. Gym has been the main thing, a lot of cycling and cardio to try to get some form of cardio in me. But you can’t replicate riding a bike, my hands and arms where fatiguing during the races as I have not been able to ride. Hips and things that you don’t get to use in any other sport.

Shaina:

How is your condition now?

Leon Camier:

Fatigue at the end of the race as I was making a few mistakes and I was trying to float as best I could but I was struggling for sure during the race.

Shaina:

Did your bike improve at while away?

Leon Camier:

It did a little bit, a tiny bit with the chassis and a little bit with some other small components that have given a little more acceleration but it has been quite small to be honest. We need a good step more to be competitive.

Shaina:

What does your future hold?

Leon Camier:

If I don’t find something competitive than I would consider it. I need something competitive for me personally and then if not I am also looking at riding in BSB if I cannot find what I want in this championship. If not then it would be an option. I don’t know, I have some business ideas and things I will consider but there are a few opportunities I have seen in motorbike racing that have not been done so far which I think would be interesting. But no plans confirmed yet.

Shaina:

What is the best moment in World Superbike that you’ve had so far?

Leon Camier:

It is hard to say the best moment, I’ve had some really good rides in the past like coming from a long way back in the race to finish on the podium. I think in Germany a good few years ago on the Suzuki I came back from like 16^th place to finish third in the race, so some really good rides, but what we achieved with the MV Agusta was really good I think as it was really not a race bike in the beginning and we took this thing and went competitive with it. Leading races here and there and fighting for podiums but this was a good feeling that we achieved especially in the circumstances. It was a cool thing.

Shaina:

What is your target for the rest of the year?

Leon Camier:

It is a little bit difficult to say. It depends at each track as some tracks are not as bad for our bike. Argentina I think will be a little bit more difficult and Qatar will also be difficult. For me it is trying to do the best that I can, that is all I can do.

Shaina:

Perfect, thanks very much for your time.

Leon Camier:

No worries, thank you.