Leon Camier will be hoping to play a part in helping the Yoshimura Suzuki Team to the podium on home soil this weekend.

The Japanese team will be one of 66 lining up for this year’s Suzuka 8-Hour race in what is round three of the FIM World Endurance Championship.

Camier (pictured), who finished ninth and 14th during last weekend’s round of the World Superbike Championship in the Czech Republic, will team up with former Australian Superbike champion Josh Waters and long-time Suzuki factory development rider Nobuatsu Aoki.

It’s a challenge that the Ashford racer is thrilled to be part of.

He said: "I am looking forward to the race. It’s one of the biggest races in the year and it’s one that is so big and important in Japan.

"I have raced it before but it’s hard to explain what the atmosphere is like unless you see it for yourself.

"The tests went pretty well recently, although the Yoshimura Suzuki felt a bit different to the bike I race in World Superbikes.

"The biggest difference is the tyres and it took a little while to understand the Bridgestones and how they behave. The Suzuka 8-Hour bike is tuned for Endurance and because I have to share the bike with other riders, it means that we all have to compromise on the set-up."

Reacting to his two points finishes in the World Superbikes, Camier said: "Conditions were very tricky at the start of the first race and the track was pretty wet. I know that I need to improve my confidence in those conditions."