PTR switches to BritishSSP to head up factory Triumph entry for 2021
Performance Technical Racing will revert to the British Supersport Championship in 2021 after it was chosen to run Triumph’s renewed factory effort in the national middleweight series.
The iconic British marque will get reacquainted with BritishSSP in 2021 as part of a pilot project in conjunction with the international FIM governing body to determine whether broader Supersport regulations should be widened to counter against a dwindling pool of raceable motorcycles.
Indeed, with Yamaha pulling its R6 from commercial sale and reverting to selling track-only models, Honda’s equivalent CBR600RR unavailable to buy in Europe, plus Triumph Daytona 675 and Suzuki GSX-R600 taken off sale, only the R6, Kawasaki ZX-6R and MV Agusta F3 675 remain to be homologated from new.
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As such, the FIM is examining the performance equalisation challenge of raising engine capacity allowance to just under 1000cc. This would allow Triumph to compete with its 765cc platform and Ducati to enter its 955cc Panigale V2.
On the Triumph side, it will enter two bikes prepared by PTR, a familiar name on the WorldSSP stage which is returning to British shores in 2021 having ended its long association as a Honda customer.
“As things developed towards the end of this year, we were happy to be able to reach an agreement with Triumph to become the Official Triumph Team,” said Simon Buckmaster. “I’m really excited about this project, it’s a fantastic opportunity and to be working in collaboration with MSVR, Dorna and the FIM to update the rules for BSS and WSS is a real opportunity to do something for the good of motorcycle sport and I can honestly say I am proud to be a part of that.
“We can’t wait to get started; we are working together with Triumph to get the 765 Street Triple RS ready for the start of the 2021 season, to develop it through the season and to establish the eligibility for both series and other series in the world going forward. From that point of view, I would say this is the best thing that has ever happened to PTR and to me personally. As a young lad I started racing on a Triumph Bonneville so for me it is almost like going back to my roots.
“We are currently talking to riders and we hope to be able to bring on some young British talent and achieve our aims of winning British Supersport in year one and challenge for the World title in World Supersport the year after.”
Triumph’s entry will be predominantly based on the architecture of the Street Triple RS naked, with a fairing inspired by the Daytona 765 limited edition [pictured].
The 765cc triple-cylinder is the same unit that currently powers the entire Moto2 World Championship grid.
