Triumph lifts British championship with masterful display at Silverstone!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Richards qualified on pole position, one of three Triumphs on the front row, and quickly settled into a good rhythm just behind his team-mate Paul Young and championship rival Hudson Kennaugh (Yamaha). With just a 12th place finish or better required to lift Triumph’s first British championship of the Hinckley era, Richards went into the race focussed on championship success rather than winning the race outright. The Leicestershire-based Australian ran a perfect race, staying out of trouble to finish fourth, maintain his 100% points scoring record and extending his championship lead to an uncatchable 34 points over South African Kennaugh. With top five finishes at every round, including three wins in the 11 races, Richards and the Triumph have been the epitome of speed and reliability on their way to the title.

“It has been a great season for us and the bike has been fantastic all year,” commented Richards after the race. “I came here to win the championship and it was important to stay out of trouble and bring it home for the title. It’s great to be the man to win Triumph’s first British title for many years and, after winning the superstock title last year, this has been my second straight title with the team. I feel very relieved now and we can go out and really enjoy the last race without any pressure.”

There was double joy for the MAP Embassy squad with Young finishing a season’s best second place. Having led the opening laps, the full-time Triumph test rider was forced to give second best to the hard charging Kennaugh from the halfway point. The result sees him move up to ninth in the series.

“I’ve ridden the Daytona 675 for three years now, but in these last two races I have really made a big step forward with the set-up,” commented Young. “I had a fantastic race today and no matter what happens I know that I will be racing with the new Daytona next season. I want to dedicate this result to all the guys back at the factory who are working so hard: from the design teams, to the guys in the workshops, the lads on the production line and everyone upstairs in the offices.”

Rob Frost, riding a Daytona 675 for Team Buff, was the third Triumph rider on the front row of the grid. He started well and was challenging for a podium finish before sliding off on lap five.

Richards’ title is the second major success for Triumph in 2008, with G-LAB Racing’s Arne Tode winning the German supersport championship in dominant fashion on his Daytona 675.