Triumph ends British championship on a high!

Monday, October 13, 2008

British supersport champion Glen Richards gave Triumph the perfect ending to a glorious season with a fine win at today’s final race on the short Brands Hatch Indy circuit.

With the championship wrapped up a round earlier, the Australian was in a relaxed mood and keen to end his tenure with the MAP Embassy Triumph squad on a high.

Starting from second on the grid, Richards shot into an early lead and was joined by Yamaha’s Steve Plater and world championship regular Joshua Brookes (Honda) in an exciting three-way battle for top spot. The trio passed and repassed but the action warmed up, Richards was able to edge away on his Daytona 675 and cross the line for his fourth win of the 12 race series. In a dominant year, the Triumph rider ended up 53 points ahead of his nearest rival, Yamaha’s Hudson Kennaugh. Richards only twice finished outside the top three, when he rode cautiously to fifth in the wet at Mallory Park and at the title-deciding Silverstone race, where fourth place was enough to secure the title. After the race, Richards thanked all of his MAP Embassy team for their work during the season and with the squad not confirmed for 2009, Richards looks set to move back to the British superbike class next year.

In a good day for Triumph, privateer Rob Frost came home fifth on another Daytona 675. It was the best result of the season for the Team Buff rider, who was finally able to translate his good qualifying performances into a top six finish. The only downside of the day was an injury to Richards’ MAP Embassy team-mate Paul Young, who couldn’t race due to a broken arm. The factory development rider had been looking to continue his rich vein of form and was fastest in the morning warm-up session when he crashed out on his fourth lap.