First it was 250GP champion Marco Simoncelli who teamed up with Aprilia’s Max Biaggi last round at Imola. Now the newly-crowned British Superbike champion, Leon Camier, will pull duty as the Emperor’s apprentice this weekend at Magny-Cours.

Camier, who also holds a British Supersport title, has thoroughly dominated the 2009 British Superbike Championship for the Airwaves Yamaha team. With 17 wins to his credit and nine pole positions, the R1 pilot’s closest BSB competitor has been fellow Airwaves teammate James Ellison.

The Magny-Cours round will be Camier’s second opportunity to challenge in the premier Superbike series, having competed at the earlier Donington Park round as a wild card entry. Camier authored a 13-6 byline at Donington aboard his familiar Airwaves R1, but will contest the upcoming Magny-Cours round with the Aprilia RSV4.

"I would like to thank Aprilia for giving me such an amazing opportunity, and also GSE Racing for being so supportive. This year has been incredible. To follow my BSB Championship win with a ride on-board a proven race winning machine in World Superbikes, is awesome," said the unusually tall road racer (Camier is 6’2”).

Having never ridden the Aprilia Superbike, or the French circuit, Camier has his work cut out for him. Yet given the success of fellow British Superbike riders of late, ie Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam, an eventual move to SBK seems a logical progession for the Englishman.

"It's going to be a tough challenge for sure. There'll be no time for testing beforehand, and I've never ridden at Magny Cours, but I'm really looking forward to it."