Triumph Motorcycles is moving into top tier Motocross and Enduro racing, working with two top riders on a new range of competition bikes.

As part of a new Triumph factory race programme the Leicestershire manufacturer has signed global Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael and five-times Enduro World Champion Iván Cervantes to help with its testing and race preparation.

An announcement of the timetable for the launch and reveal of what the motorcycles will look like – as well as the racing programme and the full story the new Triumph MX and Enduro bikes – will follow in the coming months.

Triumph Motorcycles chief executive Nick Bloor said: “Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Triumph brand, which everyone at Triumph is incredibly excited to be part of.

“We are 100 per cent committed to making a long-lasting impact in this highly competitive and demanding world, with a single-minded ambition to deliver a winning motorcycle line-up for a whole new generation of Triumph riders.”

Ricky Carmichael turned pro when he was 17, going on to win a record 15 Motocross championships, with two perfect seasons, and a further five Supercross championships.

Since retiring from professional racing he has stayed involved in the sport, owning a championship-winning team, designing tracks for the Daytona Supercross and commentating on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross.

He said: “I am thrilled to announce that I am joining the Triumph family and even more excited to be a part of their new endeavour into the off-road product category.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me to join this historic brand, and I am honoured and humbled to be a part of the development and release of their off-road motorcycles.

“Building something from the ground up is something that really is intriguing to me at this stage of my career.

“What is impressive to me is Triumph’s dedication, and passion to develop a top of the class product.

“Everyone that I have been involved with in this project – from the engineers, design groups, R&D department – have shown extreme passion for what they are doing and that is a recipe for success and something that I love being a part of.

“We all share that same passion, and that’s to be the best.

“If you are familiar with the Triumph brand, you already know the quality of craftsmanship is top shelf, and the off-road models will follow suit to their past!

“Not only are these exciting times for me, but it’s an exciting time for the off-road industry to be adding another brand to the mix and the opportunities that lie ahead for all off-road consumers.

“I can’t wait to see the reactions when these models hit the dealer’s showroom floors.”

Global Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael

Spaniard Ivan Cervantes is a five times world champion who started in Motocross, where he won five national titles, before moving to Enduro in 2002.

When he was 23 he became the first Spanish champion in the EnduroGP E1 category, followed by a further three world championship titles in EnduroGP and an FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup championship title.

He competed three times in the Dakar rally, and after retiring went on to work with the Real Federación Motociclista Española, as the sport manager of Enduro in Spain, and manager of the Spanish Junior Enduro Team.

He said: “I have loved Triumph motorcycles right from being a small kid, seeing them in films and on television.

“So to be working with Triumph from the beginning of this project, is an amazing opportunity for me, not just because it is working with one of the world’s greatest motorcycle brands, but also for being part of building something from zero. It is a dream come true for any racer.

“Like me, everyone I am working with at Triumph is focused to make the bikes the best they can be. I cannot wait to see the bikes competing at a world level, but I also look forward to when I can stand in a Triumph dealer and know I was part of this very special project.”

Based in Hinckley Triumph made more than 75,000 motorcycles in its 2021 financial year and has close to 700 dealers across the world.

It remains the UK’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer and employs around 2,000 people worldwide with subsidiary operations in the UK, North America, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Benelux, Brazil, India, China and Thailand.

#Moto #Bike #Race