Press release: Leon Camier in powered his fourth daily winning double in the sixth round of the ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli at Knockhill to extend to 78 points his lead in the title stakes over his Airwaves Yamaha team-mate James Ellison.
Camier has now won all but two of the dozen races, and these latest successes added to the birthday celebrations of team-owner Darrell Healey, also giving his team their first victories at the Fife circuit.
Josh Brookes had claimed his first pole position in the series, but the HM Plant Honda rider was outgunned from the start as Stuart Easton, hungry for maiden glory at his home track charged ahead on his Hydrex Honda.
Camier was running second, but not for long before he eased ahead at the Hairpin on the second lap and then forged clear with Easton and Brookes in hot pursuit.
They were given hope of catching him when the Safety Car was deployed just into the final third of the race as Gary Mason fell with Tristan Palmer, dropping some oil.
The pack bunched, but Camier played it right: “I wanted to go for it initially but I pulled a wheelie so I had to back off of a bit, and then I went again, and I guess it all worked out. Then it was a case of getting back into the rhythm and getting going again and pulling away from Easton to take the victory,”
Brookes, third in that race, ahead of Simon Andrews, grabbed the lead in the second 30 lap race from the off, but Camier, always running second, reeled him in, and moved ahead on the seventh lap and then pulled out a three second lead to secure the victory.
“It’s good to get the race wins under the belt, but there is still a long way to go, and I have to thank the team for the preparation of my bike which is really good. To give them their first victory here is something special,” said Camier after heading off Brookes.
Ellison took third place, having earlier ridden a damage limitation exercise to fifth place after being baulked on the opening lap of the first race by the falling Karl Harris at the Hairpin.
Tommy Bridewell took a winning double in the Mirror.co.uk Cup aboard his Team NB Suzuki, capitalising on the crash by Mason, as the consistent Peter Hickman took second place on the Ultimate Racing Yamaha with Tom Tunstall third.
In the second race, Mason led most of the way on his Quay Garage Honda, but Bridewell riding determinedly nosed ahead to take the win in the class for independent teams and riders.
Full results and championship standings on www.britishsuperbike.com
Championship standings:Pos Name Bike Pts1. L. Camier Airwaves Yamaha 267
2. J. Ellison Airwaves Yamaha 189
3. S. Easton Hydrex Honda 173
4. G. Richards HM Plant Honda 103
5. J. Brookes HM Plant Honda 99
6. S. Andrews MSS Colchester Kawasaki 92
7. K. Harris Hydrex Honda 87
8. C. Walker Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 79
9. I. Lowry Relentless Suzuki by TAS 78
10. S. Guintoli Worx Crescent Suzuki 77
