Leon Camier admits his hopes of making an immediate impact in the British Superbike Championship are slim.

The Ashford racer finished fifth in the series last season but approaches the Bank Holiday weekend first round at Brands Hatch without any pre-season testing of his new Yamaha YZF-R1 bike.

Camier’s team, GSE Racing, have switched from Ducati and the 22-year-old admits it could take time to get used to the machine.

“The team have no data or experience and neither have I and we’ll just have to do the best job we can,” he said.

Camier only this week returned to the track with a test on a different bike to his race one at Jerez in Spain.

Ashford’s Tim Bourne, meanwhile, has a wild card entry into the first round.

Bourne last rode in the Superbike class in 1992 when he formed the Ashford-based GSE Group Airwaves Team as rider and manager.

He said: “I am riding well with my club Bemsee in their MRO Powerbike Class and set pole position at last year’s BSB meeting on the Brands GP circuit in a support race, so thought why not?”

He has teamed up with Bethersden-based service and tuning centre Tagg Racing.

“Owners Jack Jennings and Paul Stonebanks have a great set-up,” Bourne added. “Paul is an ex-racer so knows about race bike requirements.”

Kent Holiday Cottages and car body supplies Britcon are helping Bourne in this year’s British Powerbike Championship.