Triumph is the latest motorcycle brand to announce its entry as a partner in the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM). The British manufacturer will compete in the Supersport class, where it will field the Street Triple 765 RS (765 cc, 130 hp)—a model newly launched for the 2023 model year—in IDM races. The three-cylinder machine enters the fray fresh off a string of successes. In the 2022 Supersport World Championship, Triumph factory rider Stefano Manzi secured one victory, four additional podium finishes, and sixth place in the overall standings.
The use of the Triumph triple was made possible by the most extensive rule change in the history of the Supersport class. Under the designation “Supersport Next Generation,” a wide range of engine designs and displacement classes have been eligible to compete in this class since last year. Performance levels are leveled through Balance of Performance measures, primarily via adjustments to the electronic engine control system. The technical regulations of the FIM World Supersport are also applied in the IDM.
IDM Series Manager Normann Broy is delighted with the new addition to the Supersport class, which has so far been dominated by Kawasaki and Yamaha four-cylinder bikes. “The races in the Supersport category are usually incredibly exciting and therefore very appealing to fans. The throaty sound of the Triumph three-cylinders will add even more excitement to these races. I’d love to get the races started right away,” says Broy, expressing his optimism for the upcoming season.
Triumph Germany press spokesperson Uli Bonsels is also looking forward to the upcoming season with great anticipation: “By entering the IDM, we are consistently continuing our increased national and international commitment to racing. For us, it’s only logical to demonstrate the competitiveness of our Street Triple 765 RS in race trim in Germany as well, just as our factory team did last season in the Supersport World Championship. I fondly recall winning the title with Arne Tode in 2008, and I am firmly convinced that we can repeat that success. Maybe not in the very first year, but certainly by 2024.”