Triumph is making a factory-backed return to motorsport with an entry into the British Supersport Championship using a 765cc-based machine that will trial the proposed new regulations for the intermediate production racing class.
Triumph was a regular competitor in the Supersport class - both on the domestic and international stage - for several years with the three-cylinder Daytona 675 but the move towards a 765cc platform would see it slip out of regulation range.
Instead, Triumph has turned its focus to its role as control engine supplier in the Moto2 World Championship, where the 765cc engine - as used in the Street Triple RS and limited edition Daytona 765 Moto2 - has powered the entire grid since 2019.
Triumph Daytona 765 Moto2 - REVIEW
However, in the week Yamaha confirmed the R6 - which makes up the vast majority of WorldSSP entries - will be taken off commercial sale and revert to a race-only model, growing uncertainty around the sector and the dwindling number of models that could be homologated to the current regulations has forced the FIM governing body in a re-think.
As a result, it is devising a fresh plan for the future that could see motorcycles with anything under 960cc compete, namely the Triumph Daytona 765 and Ducati Panigale V2.
As such, the British Supersport Championship will become the testbed for this equalisation process in 2021 courtesy of a Triumph and Ducati entry. However, this announcement confirms Triumph’s entry at least will be a well funded factory effort.
“Following on from the recent announcement by British Superbike organisers MSVR and FIM World Supersport organisers DWO about the future evolution of the Supersport class, Triumph Motorcycles will have a Factory supported race team in the 2021 British Supersport Championship.
“This exciting development marks the official return of Triumph into the British racing scene with a factory supported team and the beginning of an even wider racing presence in 2022 and beyond.”
Triumph eyeing WorldSSP return under new regs
You’ll notice there are some key omissions to the above statement in that while Triumph mentions it will run the 765cc platform, it doesn’t say which motorcycle will actually be raced.
While the Daytona makes obvious sense, it’s already sold out in 765 guise meaning it will be a fairly irrelevant marketing tool to go to the expense of racing with (even if the FIM is probably investing more in this project).
There isn’t anywhere in the regulations that state an entry has to be a sportsbike per se, merely it has to conform to technical regulations but there are obvious advantages of a sportsbike or a naked like the Street Triple RS.
Even so, Triumph Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent did tell Visordown that the Street Triple RS will provide the majority of the mechanicals with a race fairing fitted.
“It is the same engine basis that you have in Moto2, so it comes off of the Street Triple RS but there will be a kit of performance parts so that anyone who wants to race Triumphs in the future will be able to increase the power to ensure we have a competitive set-up.
“Chassis wise, it will be based off the Street Triple RS but there will be a race fairing fitted to the bike, but the basis of the bike will be a Street Triple RS.”
With the regulations almost certain to be introduced internationally in 2022, Sargent teases Triumph could well push for a factory WorldSSP return too provided it can apply it to a real-world business case.
“We are interested in having Triumphs in WorldSSP. [The axing of the roadgoing Yamaha R6] suggests commercially that category is a difficult place to be, so it is a question of finding other ways to create a competitive motorcycle that can fight in that championship.”
