The newly announced Monster Energy Triumph Racing Team shared insights on their Motocross World Championship programme at a special Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations media event in Ernee, France, at the weekend. The team, which recently revealed its title sponsor, team name, and new livery, unveiled its MX2 race bike; the first time a Triumph motocross machine has been seen in public in Europe.
Words: Triumph Racing, Images: Ray Archer
Steve Sargent, Triumph’s Chief Product Officer, explained to the attending crowd about the British manufacturer’s objectives, goals, and long-term commitment to MXGP as it nears its first world championship gate-drop. Triumph’s programme is gaining momentum ahead of the ’24 season, in which the official MX2 team will field two riders, and Sargent explained details on the current status of the 250 programme as well as reiterating the intention to race in the MXGP class in 2025.
With the backdrop of the undulating French circuit as the setting for the event on the Monster Energy rig, Team Owner Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni and Team Manager Vincent Bereni shared details on how their team and Triumph have worked together to leave no stone unturned on this ground-up development project. From their passionate race team members to the Triumph engineers based in Hinckley UK, along with the partners that have joined the programme, it has been a steep and intense period of development for both the stock and race bike. Anticipation is mounting for the 2024 season, heightened by Monster Energy’s role as the team’s title sponsor.
Three times Vice Motocross World Champion Clement Desalle, who has played a pivotal role as test rider for Triumph, gave his insights into what his involvement has been over the past two years. Desalle, who has been putting in the laps behind the scenes, notably shared how much he has enjoyed riding a 250cc machine, while being heavily involved in its development. The Belgian went on to explain how the initial strong feeling with the very first Triumph motocross prototype gave him a lot of motivation to be part of the British manufacturer’s aspiration to race in off-road. Throughout the OEM project and race bike development, Desalle has been involved in the entire testing process. The former racer will continue development work in all areas, with his focus now turning to the 450cc project.
With words from Monster Energy’s Joao Noruegas, EMEA 2 Wheel Offroad Manager, confirming the strong synergies between Triumph and Monster’s vision for the team, the bike was unveiled to a huge crowd of media, who were keen to see a Triumph motocross machine in the flesh for the first time.
Triumph will line up for the very first time in the FIM MX2 World Championship in 2024 as part of its global off-road racing programme.
