Leon Camier, Ioda to skip first Sepang MotoGP test

New MotoGP signing Leon Camier expects Iodaracing to miss the first 2014 pre-season test, at Sepang in Malaysia next month.

Ioda are making major changes for the forthcoming season, not only hiring former BSB champion and WSBK frontrunner Camier to ride alongside Danilo Petrucci, but also switching from Suter-BMW to Aprilia ART machinery.

“I think the plan is that the team are not going to make the first test in Malaysia – it is going to be the second one, at the end of February,” Camier told the official MotoGP website.

The opening Sepang test takes place from February 4-6, with the return visit on February 26-28. One further official test, at Qatar, will then be available before Camier makes his MotoGP race debut at the same Losail venue on March 23.

“There is a lot to look forward to. Obviously I’ve ridden an Aprilia before [in WSBK], but since then the bike has changed quite a lot and there is a lot to get used to with tyres, brakes and everything else,” Camier added.

“There is going to be a lot of excitement, but at the moment all we can do is to train and try and prepare for the test.

“For sure I have a lot to learn but I am pretty confident going into the season. I have the same technician I have had for the last few years – with whom I won the British Superbike championship – and also my chief mechanic.”

The ART dominated the previous CRT category in the hands of Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro, but will be up against a new range of Open class bikes in 2014.

“Until we race against the [Open class] Hondas and Yamahas – and Barbera on the [Avintia] Kawasaki – it’s really difficult to know where our bike will be competitive wise,” confirmed the 27-year-old Englishman.

Aprilia has stated it will upgrade the ART in line with the new Open regulations. The exact technical specification of the 2014 machine is currently unclear, but pneumatic valves and a seamless shift gearbox are rumoured to be under development.

The ART is based on the RSV4 superbike, which Camier rode in 2010-2011 alongside WSBK title winning team-mate Max Biaggi, before switching to Crescent Suzuki.

Sepang will not be the first time that Camier has ridden a MotoGP bike, having completed a few laps on Dani Pedrosa’s 990cc RC211V at the 2006 Valencia post race test (see pictures below).

Iodaracing – which will be the only team to run the full ART package this year – was absent from last November’s Valencia test, meaning Sepang will also mark the first time that Petrucci has tried the bike.

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