Triumph has announced its US racing plans for motocross and supercross, including details of the personnel involved in the factory team.
Announcements from Triumph regarding their motocross projects have been long-awaited since the first new broke of its motocross plans in 2020.
When Redbud hosted the Motocross of Nations earlier this year in October, the British manufacturer announced their MXGP World Championship plans, which will begin in 2024 and for which the brand has recruited established names from recent MXGP history to put together and run the team.
On 13 December, Triumph followed their MXGP World Championship announcement (below) up with a SuperMotocross World Championship announcement, which confirms their entry to professional AMA motocross and supercross competition in 2024.
Like the previous MXGP project, Triumph’s AMA plans will begin with just a 250-class effort, before expanding to the 450 class in 2025.
Triumph also revealed some of the personnel that will be working in and managing the team. For example, Bobby Hewitt has been named as the team principal. Hewitt managed the Rockstar Husqvarna team that won regional and national championships indoor and out with Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne, including 250MX, 450MX, and 450SX.
Further, Steve Westfall, who was also a part of that successful Husqvarna team with Hewitt, has been announced as the factory team manager; Dave Arnold, team manager for HRC during their dominant period in the 1980s, will lead the chassis development; and Dudley Cramond, who has worked on Grand Prix projects for many manufacturers including Honda and Aprilia, will lead the powertrain development.
It is a list of people who are from outside of Triumph, but inside motocross - an important point and an (similarly important) admission from Triumph of their own lack of experience with dirt bike racing.
Triumph is still yet to reveal the bike which will contest the two 250SX classes, the 250MX class and the MX2 World Championship class, but it is also more than one year away from its competitive debut either side of the Atlantic. The 2024 AMA Supercross season should get underway in January, meaning we are 13 months out. Nonetheless, there is certainly a degree of frustration to still be without a visual on the bike, or have any kind of idea about its specifications.
At the same time, keeping such information back helps to manage expectations, which is probably the more important thing for Triumph at this moment in time.
Nick Bloor - CEO, Triumph:
“Following close on the heels of our recent announcement to enter the FIM Motocross World Championship in 2024, today’s launch of Triumph’s partnership with the incredibly talented team of Bobby and Scuba in the all-new Monster Energy AMA SuperMotocross World Championship continues our journey to the top tier of off-road competition and racing.
"I have no doubt, knowing the experience and capability shared between our dedicated in-house design and engineering teams, and Bobby’s hand selected team of racing experts, that this partnership will make an indelible mark on the history of this incredible sport and Triumph’s illustrious brand.”
Bobby Hewitt - Team Principal, Triumph Racing, Supercross & Motocross:
"I always knew I would eventually get back into racing but to be able to do it with an iconic brand like Triumph, and to be able to help build this US Triumph Racing team from the ground up is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Triumph Motorcycles have been a part of my family growing up and to have them now decide to enter into professional off-road racing is a tremendous opportunity for our sport and a testament to the growth of the motorcycle industry overall in America.
"I am also very fortunate to be able to work with Scuba (Steve Westfall) again and add the experience of Dave [Arnold] and Dudley [Cramond] to our team. I am honored to be working alongside everyone at the factory in Hinckley and cannot wait to get back to the racetrack in 2024 with our new team and compete for an SMX World Championship!"
Ricky Carmichael - Global Off-Road Ambassador, Triumph:
“It is great to take this next step in announcing our US Triumph Racing Team. Bobby's success in our sport as a championship team owner speaks for itself. The team he has assembled is already working with the factory in Hinckley during these final stages of development. They are some of the best people to have worked in our paddock and this shows the level of commitment, across the board, in this effort to compete for the SMX World Championship. I look forward to working with Bobby and the entire team when we go racing in 2024.”
Jeremy Appleton - Global Racing Manager, Triumph:
“Confirming Triumph’s entry into the SuperMotocross World Championship in 2024 here today is a huge step. Announcing Bobby Hewitt, as Team Principal for Triumph Racing to oversee Supercross and Motocross is a clear demonstration of the level of ambition we have in our approach to going racing at the pinnacle of dirt bike competition.
"Bobby and Steve ‘Scuba’ Westfall have proved that they know how to win and revealing Dave Arnold, an industry AMA Hall of Fame legend in chassis development and Dudley Cramond, with over 25 years of experience of building race winning engines brings the highest level of experience and expertise possible to Triumph.
"Ultimately, Triumph is focused on building a bike and a racing program to win and we believe this is the team to achieve that goal. The input that Ricky is having into the project is enormously valuable and our thanks are also due to Dave Prater and his team, Tim Cotter from MX Sports Pro Racing, Mike Pelletier and all at the American Motorcyclist Association for their welcome and all their help and support; we look forward to racing with them from January 2024.”
Dave Prater – Vice President, Supercross, Feld Motor Sports:
“We are excited to have a manufacturer with the rich history and racing heritage Triumph has, invest in the SuperMotocross World Championship. Triumph has proven they can enter a new racing category with incredible success. They have recently redefined the Moto2 World Championship class with an amazing reliability record. We believe Triumph will quickly make a positive impact on the sport.”
Tim Cotter – Sr Director of MX Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing:
“The announcement by Triumph Motorcycles, to return to the American motocross racing and sporting environment, marks one of the most exciting additions to these programs in the modern competition era. Triumph enjoys a prestigious position in the history of the sport of professional and amateur motorcycle competitions in the US, and this new announcement brings with it the deserved anticipation and high expectations of an excited American motorcycle racing community.
"It’s an honor for our company to welcome the return of Triumph Motorcycles and to look forward, with great anticipation, as they take on the world’s best riders and teams, on the best tracks, riding against the best assortment of motorcycle brands ever assembled in the history of our sport.”
Mike Pelletier - Director of Racing, American Motorcyclist Association:
“It’s rare when a major manufacturer – especially one with such distinguished competition history over the decades – joins our sport’s premier racing series. I can’t tell you how excited I am – and the AMA is – to welcome Triumph to AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross for 2024.
"I’ve developed a great relationship with Triumph’s newly appointed Team Principal Bobby Hewitt and Team Manager Steve Westfall over the years, and it’s been a pleasure working with Triumph from the very beginning of its path to professional Supercross and Motocross. Triumph’s racing history is monumental, and we can’t wait to watch the newest chapter unfold during the 2024 season and beyond.”
