INTRODUCING TRIUMPH VALMOTO
The Triumph ValMoto British Supersport team represents a union of heritage and technology. For the British motorcycle manufacturer, 2003 marks a return to racing after a 30-year absence. For Jack Valentine and his highly professional ValMoto team, the Triumph Daytona 600 is the perfect machine to bring them championship glory. By signing two of Britain’s most talented riders – Jim Moodie and Craig Jones – Triumph ValMoto has taken an important step towards realising that ambition.
The Triumph plant is one of the most technically advanced motorcycle facilities in the world and the company hopes to make a big impact on racing and road riding alike with its new Daytona 600 – a bike that reflects the massive investment Triumph has made in the future.
The Triumph Daytona 600 is the latest addition to the Triumph range. Aggressive styling and groundbreaking performance are not the only features that set the British designed and built machine apart from the competition. The use of highly advanced technology and innovative manufacturing processes has enabled Triumph to produce a bike with the specification necessary to achieve success in one of the most competitive categories of motorcycle racing.
ValMoto is a new company – but it also has a long history of success. Managing Director Jack Valentine believes that ValMoto is representative of a new direction in motorcycle racing and is geared to complement the rapidly evolving changes in a sport that is more professional, corporate and business-driven than ever before.
For over 20 years, Jack Valentine and Steve Mellor enjoyed unrelenting success under the banner of V&M Racing, notching up seven British championship titles and 15 TT wins – and victories in numerous other series and events. Now, as ValMoto, Jack and the team bring a wealth of experience to the fields of research and development and race team management.
Triumph ValMoto has two different but equally exceptional riders in Jim Moodie and Craig Jones. Moodie – a double British Supersport Champion and winner of eight Isle of Man TTs – is renowned for his considerable skill as a development rider as well as a fearless, hard-charging riding style. He is one of the fittest and most determined riders in the championship and is more than capable of claiming the Supersport crown for Triumph ValMoto.
Moodie’s team-mate Craig Jones is ACU Academy graduate and reigning National Junior Superstock Champion. At only 18-years-of-age he is rider of rare talent and maturity who is utterly dedicated to learning his craft. Past performances have shown that Craig is able to take on the best in his class and beat them. It is a habit he is determined to continue with Triumph ValMoto.
Triumph may have been absent from competition for the last few decades but it has produced a highly competitive sportsbike in the Daytona 600. The British Supersport Championship is without doubt one of the most hotly contested road race series in the world and sure to provide a baptism of fire for the new machine. However, Triumph ValMoto is quietly confident and hopeful of a victorious debut season.
THE TEAM
Team Manager: Jack Valentine
Team Co-ordinator: Doris Valentine
Riders: Jim Moodie #21
Craig Jones #18
Chief Engineer: Steve Mellor
Race Engine Technician: Cameron Whitworth
Moodie’s crew
Chief Race Technician: Jim McMahon
Technician: John Scott
Jones’ crew
Chief Race Technician: Paul Williamson
Technician: James Leonard
Parts Co-ordinator: Alan O’Connor
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION – TRIUMPH DAYTONA 600
ENGINE |
|
| Type: | Four-cylinder DOHC |
| Displacement: | 599cc |
| Bore and stroke: | 68mm x 41.3mm |
| Ignition system: | Keihin |
| Fuel system: | Keihin 38mm twin butterfly |
| Chain: | Regina 520 GPOV |
| Sprockets: | Renthal |
| Lubrication: | Morris Race 4 |
| Output: | 138bhp |
| Top speed: | 185mph |
TRANSMISSION |
|
| Clutch type: | Nine-plate, wet |
| Number of gears: | Six |
CHASSIS |
|
| Frame type: | Twin-spar aluminium |
| Front suspension: | Re-valved Kayaba |
| Rear suspension: | Penske |
| Front tyre: | Pirelli Super Corsa 120/70/R17 |
| Rear tyre: | Pirelli Super Corsa 190/55/R17 |
| Front brake: | Stock – Carbone Lorraine race pads |
| Rear brake: | Stock – Carbone Lorraine race pads |
| Bodywork: | FibreOne Tech |
| Screens: | Skidmarx |
| Paintwork: | Pro-Art |
DIMENSIONS |
|
| Length: | 2060mm |
| Width: | 665mm |
| Weight: | 165kg dry |
| Wheelbase: | 1390mm |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 18L |
Jim Moodie Profile
| Date of birth: | 15.02.66 |
| Place of birth: | Dumfries |
| Home town: | Hamilton |
| Marital status: | Married to Miriem |
| Height: | 5’7” |
| Weight: | 10 ½ stone |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eye colour: | Blue/green |
| Hobbies: | Mountain biking |
| Favourite food: | Italian |
| Favourite drink: | Lager and lime |
| Own car: | BMW X5 |
| Own motorcycles: | Raptor 600 quad |
| First road race: | Ouston 1983 on an RD250LC |
| First win: | Scottish 250cc Championship race 1985 |
| Favourite circuit: | No real favourite |
| Best moments: | Too many to mention |
| Ambition: | To keep enjoying racing |
| Likes: | Flying helicopters |
| Dislikes: | Insincerity |
| Favourite all-time riders: | Freddie Spencer |
| Most respected rival: | Every good rider |
| Helmet: | Shoei |
| Leathers: | Spada |
| Boots: | Sidi |
| Gloves: | Nankai and Spyke |
Career Highlights
2002
| 1st IOM Junior TT with V&M Racing |
2001
| Injuries sustained at end of 2000 season result in missed season |
2000
| 1st British Supersport Championship with V&M Racing | |
| 4th Brands Hatch World Supersport with V&M Racing |
1999
| 3rd British Supersport Championship | |
| 1st IOM Junior TT |
(outright TT lap record)
1998
| 1st IOM Production 1000 TT |
(first 120mph TT lap on production machine
1997
- 6th British Superbike Championship
- 2nd British Production Championship
- Half season in British Supersport Championship
1996
| 1st British Production Championship | |
| 1st IOM Singles TT |
1995
| Rode RC45 for Medd Racing – injury cut season short |
1994
| 2nd British Superbike Championship | |
| 1st IOM Supersport 400 TT | |
| 1st IOM Singles TT |
1993
| 2nd British Superbike Championship | |
| 1st British Supersport Championship | |
| 1st IOM Supersport 600 TT | |
| 1st IOM Supersport 400 TT | |
| 1st North West 200 Supersport 600 | |
| 1st North West 200 Supersport 400 |
Craig Jones Profile
| Date of birth: | 16.01.85 |
| Place of birth: | Crewe |
| Home town: | Northwich |
| Marital status: | Single |
| Height: | 5’ 7” |
| Weight: | 9 ½ stone |
| Hair colour: | Black |
| Eye colour: | Green |
| Hobbies: | Mountain biking and swimming |
| Favourite food: | Italian |
| Favourite drink: | Red Bull |
| Own car: | Don’t drive |
| Own motorcycles: | None |
| First road race: | Cadwell Park 1999 – Superteens |
| First win: | Oulton Park July 1999 – Superteens |
| Favourite circuit: | Brands Hatch and Oulton Park |
| Best moments: | Winning the 2002 National Junior Superstock Championship |
| Ambition: | To rise to the top of the sport and be world champion |
| Likes: | Winning races and having fun |
| Dislikes: | Smoking |
| Favourite all-time riders: | Loris Capirossi |
| Most respected rival: | All of them |
| Helmet: | KBC |
| Leathers: | AGV Sport |
| Boots: | AGV Sport |
| Gloves: | AGV Sport |
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2002
| 1st National Junior Superstock Championship |
(eight wins, four second places, four pole positions and eight lap records)
2001
| Top six finishes in every round of British Superstock Championship with MotoPower Honda before injury cut season short |
2000
| Awarded RK Rider of the Year trophy | |
| Top 15 finish in four British 125cc Championship rounds | |
| Half-season in Aprilia RS125 Challenge – four podiums |
1999
| 4th Aprilia RS125 Challenge |
(four podiums and four lap records)
1998
| 1st British Senior Minimoto Championship | |
| 1st World Minimoto UK round |
1997
| 2nd British Minimoto Senior Production Championship | |
| 1st European Senior Minimoto UK round |
1996
| 1st British Junior Minimoto Championship |
(eight rounds, eight victories)
TRIUMPH VALMOTO AND PARTNERS
Gripping performance promise from Triumph ValMoto
Choosing the world championship-winning Pirelli Supercorsa as Triumph ValMoto’s race tyre was an easy decision for Jack Valentine, whose phenomenal success with Italian rubber is unparalleled. “With Pirelli, we know we can rely on a quality product, supported by ongoing technical development. This is absolutely vital when you are working with a professional team that has major manufacturer support from Triumph”, he said.
For Pirelli, it is a double first – even before the works machines have left the grid for the first race of the championship. Production Triumph Daytona 600s are fitted with the acclaimed Pirelli Diablo as original equipment. Developed directly from Pirelli’s World Championship success, Diablo is providing to be the ultimate must-have tyre for every sports bike rider – it offers total grip in even the most extreme conditions and supreme handling on road and track.
Said PMMUK Ltd Director, Tony Ensor, “The return of Triumph to the racetrack, with our established race team partner, Jack Valentine, is exciting news. The combination of the superb Daytona 600, two great riders and Pirelli tyres, promises to be a winning one.”
Over 130 years of progress and quality has seen Morris Lubricants achieve the status of Britain’s largest privately owned lubricants company serving the home market and exporting to over 50 countries worldwide.
Morris Lubricants is a company with a sense of history and tradition, based around high quality products and uncompromising customer service. It combines these qualities with a refreshing approach to future investment and innovation.
Morris Lubricants has developed a range of high performance lubricants and functional fluids specifically for modern motorcycles – engine and gear oils designed to absorb the stresses that only high power, high-revving motorcycle and scooter engines can inflict. However, the comprehensive range also includes suspension fluids formulated to take the rough with the smooth under any track condition; maintenance aerosols for the workshop and pit lane; and a variety of speciality products created specifically for motorcycles.
Morris lubricants are used extensively in road racing and off-road competition. That same advanced lubrication technology, race proven at world level, is incorporated in Morris products formulated for street bike use.
Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European computer company offering enterprise storage solutions, unrivalled expertise in enterprise computing solutions with best-in-class Intel and Unix-based servers. The company is also one of the leading providers of professional PCs, notebook computers and workstations to business customers. Europe’s leading supplier of PCs for home users and small offices, Fujitsu Siemens Computers also supports growing demand for Business Critical Computing. It has extremely secure, scalable and always-on server infrastructures for current and future e-business environments and Mobility solutions delivering anytime access to Internet services and applications – independent of location and device.
Mercedes-Benz Used Commercial Vehicles is pleased to be supplying an Actros 1843 tractor unit with long distance cab to the Triumph ValMoto British Supersport Championship team. The vehicle will be used to transport the Triumph ValMoto race trailer, Daytona 600 race bikes, spares, tools and technical equipment around to the country – providing first class support to a first class racing team.
The truck is an example of the wide range available from Mercedes-Benz Used Commercial Vehicles. Based at Barnsley, South Yorkshire, the company has quite possibly the largest selection of pre-owned Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in the UK, all of which are available in various models, configurations and colours.
With a product line up ranging from the Vito through to the popular Sprinter van and on to the bigger trucks like the Atego 7.5 tonne and the 1997 Truck of the Year – the Actros – Mercedes-Benz Used Commercial Vehicles is confident that it can meet the requirements of every customer with ease.
Mercedes-Benz Used Commercial Vehicles believes that its previously owned products are every bit as reliable and just as good value for money as its new vehicles. With over 30 outlets throughout the UK, Mercedes-Benz Used Commercial Vehicles is able to supply the right vehicle to suit a client’s needs and budget.
Penske Racing Shocks UK does not simply supply Triumph ValMoto with state of the art motorcycle racing suspension systems; the company also prides itself on the extensive technical support it provides in order to ensure that its products evolve into a winning formula along with the machines.
SPA Design limited produces the Micro-Dash V2 display and data logging equipment used by many top race teams – including Triumph ValMoto. The system is engineered to record vital data transmitted via numerous sensors on the bike. These sensors can then be graphically represented and analysed. This could include readings on engine speed, coolant and lubricant temperature and pressures, which are important factors when attempting to maximise engine performance. The Micro-Dash V2 also monitors rider input by recording suspension movement, road speed, throttle position and brake pressures.
Fibreone Tech Racing was established in 2000 to produce race bodywork with the emphasis on “quality and service”. For a relatively new company Fibreone Tech, which is based in Barnsley in south Yorkshire, has already been the main bodywork supplier to many of Britain’s top racing teams (and academies) including V&M Racing, Reve Red Bull Ducati and the Ron Haslam Race School.
Bodywork produced by Fibreone Tech is made to an extremely high standard and quality of fitment is guaranteed. Each individual product is numbered to allow consistent monitoring during production and all of the body kits are lined with woven fibreglass and finished internally in matt black. Also, for convenience and to ensure quality of fitting, all the kits are predrilled and provided with Dzus fasteners.
With Fibreone Tech’s continued product development and extensive knowledge of fibreglass products (and the problems racers are faced with) means that it is in an excellent position to produce the quality of bodywork demanded by riders and teams everywhere.
For further information please call 01226 711000
Micron is one of the most trusted and respected manufacturers of performance exhausts for motorcycles in the world. Established 27 years ago, Micron products are internationally distributed and used on racetracks worldwide.
Employing the most up to date high-tech equipment, Micron ensures consistent quality, a perfect fit and the optimum power – and sound – every time.
Micron is now recognized as being a high performance company that is leading the way in design, innovation and technology. This means, not only a power gain but flexibility right across the rev range, more torque and a great, world-renowned exhaust note.
Micron offers a choice of product for most supersport bikes currently available.