An engine upgrade is set to help Leon Camier move up the World Superbike Championship standings when the series heads to Italy’s Monza this weekend.

The Ashford rider (pictured) will be full of confidence ahead of his trip to the ultra-fast Monza circuit after a successful test with the factory Aprilia squad at Mugello, near Florence, last week.

The object of the test was to develop a new engine setting specially designed for the long straights of Monza and the 24-year-old’s fastest lap time was just a tenth of a second behind team-mate and reigning world champion Max Biaggi.

With the upgrade set to be implemented on his bike for the fourth round of the World Championship this weekend, Camier is confident he can produce another set of impressive results.

He told bikesportnews.com: "We did about 50 laps at Mugello each day and what we achieved should work well for the rest of the year, not just this weekend."

Camier begins the weekend lying sixth in the championship standings on 50 points.