Triumph goes racing

British marque Triumph has said it will go world supersport racing next year, after spending most of its recent history avoiding formal involvement with competition. A loosening up of the capacity rules, enabling the firm's 675 triple to compete with 600cc fours, has made it possible.

Team Triumph-SC will field two riders in the Supersport class and another two in the Superstock 600 European Championship. The riders have yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be a mix of British and Italian talent.

Based in Bologna, Italy, Team Triumph-SC will be run by Stefano Caracchi. Previously known as 'Ducati-SC', Caracchi's team has a long and successful history of racing Ducatis in World Supersport and World Superbike, and is highly regarded in racing circles. For 2008 it has made the decision to switch from Ducati to Triumph.

Triumph's Product Manager, Simon Warburton, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity for Triumph and the factory is behind the team 100 per cent. The Daytona 675 has won many awards since its launch and participating in the Supersport World Championship will further raise the profile of this fantastic bike and Triumph's profile in general."

Stefano Caracchi, addressing the press during the announcement, commented: "The Supersport and Superstock 600 are very competitive and hard categories, but we are very confident in the potential of the Daytona 675. Our team has contested the World Superbike Championship ever since the first series and we have a highly talented and experienced technical staff to develop the Daytona to meet this new challenge."