Triumph confirms MX2 and MXGP race plans
Having announced that it was to enter the off-road motorcycle market last year, hiring Ricky Carmichael and Ivan Cervantes to advise, Triumph Motorcycles has confirmed expectations that it is to compete in the FIM Motocross World Championship in 2024, with a factory-supported race programme under an all-new Triumph Racing banner.
Triumph Racing Team has been set up in partnership with ex-Kawasaki team principal Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni, with his long-standing team manager Vincent Bereni as manager of the new TRT set-up, based at Chizat-Suzzoni's MX ESCA race HQ at Eindhoven, in the Netherlands.
TRT will field two of Triumph's all-new 250 cc 4-stroke MX bikes in the 2024 MX2 class in 2024 and will add an entry into the 450 cc MXGP class in 2025.
 |
| Nick Bloor (left) and Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni |
The new TRT banner will now cover all of Triumph's racing-related activities, including Moto2 and Supersport racing. The partnership between Triumph and Thierry will encompass his well established and highly successful Eindhoven team structure and facilities. Further underpinning that its ambition and commitment to win is central to this new partnership, Triumph has also stated that it will continue leading the team with a full crew "of highly experienced technical staff, all focused on bringing Triumph to the pinnacle of motocross racing performance.
"The new long-term partnership between Triumph and Thierry reflects a shared goal and commitment to build depth and success into Triumph Racing's approach to competition. As a part of Triumph Racing's portfolio of commitments, Thierry and Vincent's team will focus on the FIM Motocross World Championship, in MX2 and MXGP, together with development of technology and talent to build Triumph's future strength in international motocross racing".
Thierry and Vincent's past racing record boasts over 80 MXGP World Championship victories and a huge reputation for technical and preparation excellence. The effort will be backed by Triumph's in-house motocross design engineering department at its Hinckley, UK headquarters - which is responsible for and already testing the concept and development of its all-new MX and Enduro motorcycle range.
Testing of the new Triumph motocross and enduro bikes "is also well underway and information on the specifications, performance characteristics and components of each model will be released in due course, along with more news on Triumph Racing's entry into further top-tier championships and categories".
Triumph CEO Nick Bloor is quoted as saying: "This new partnership demonstrates Triumph's long-term commitment to competing at the highest levels of racing. Our entry into the FIM Motocross World Championship with a factory supported Triumph Racing team signifies a landmark moment at the beginning of our new top-tier off-road racing campaign."
TRT owner (MX2 and MXGP) Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni said: "Nick Bloor and the Triumph Board of Directors have made their long-term ambitions for the project very clear, and I see a huge amount of passion from everyone at the factory.
"I am happy with progress on the bike, it looks great, has speed on the track, and Vincent and my staff are working with the engineers at Hinckley on building it into a competitive package. MXGP continues to grow around the world, I am very happy to be back and looking forward to going racing with Triumph."
For Infront Moto Racing, FIM's MXGP rights holder, CEO David Luongo pointed to the value of having another factory team on the grid. "It is a great news! Probably one of the most important in recent years. We are talking about one of the most emblematic motorcycle brands in the world. This is a very important announcement and is a fantastic sign about the interest and the importance of MXGP in the international motorsport scene.
"With an average of 19 events per year, MXGP gives the best platform for manufacturers to develop their bikes, components and to advertise them worldwide. From Asia to South America and Europe, MXGP is covering all the different markets and is touching most of the off-road fans in the world."
Triumph Global Off-Road Ambassador Ricky Carmichael was equally excited about the news. "It's been a long time coming, but since the start of this project with Triumph, I have been amazed at just how hard everyone has been working.
"From the first stages of the prototypes, I was really taken back at how good the performance was. Since then, being in the UK testing the newest developments, I can tell you that it has the capabilities of winning at the highest level, and I personally believe the riders, from professional to amateur, across the entire range of off-road models, will really like what is being developed!"
To be ready to race in 2024, Triumph will have to launch its 250 cc bike in 2023, and there's a good chance it could appear quite early in the year as the company has already embarked on tests of both motocross and enduro versions in the UK, Europe and the USA.
