2003 600cc ValMoto Triumphs TT-winning team
In 2003, the first Triumph factory team to be fielded for 30 years burst onto the UK road racing scene and notched an historic Isle of Man TT victory. Triumph Motorcycles of Hinckley launched the TT600 Daytona, a lighter and faster version of its original four- cylinder TT600, for 2003. To promote the Daytona in an ultra-competitive 600cc market, the company contested the UK 600cc Supersport championship, signing rising teenager Craig Jones and the seasoned Jim Moodie to ride. The race programme was entrusted to the experienced ValMoto team, run by Jack Valentine and Steve Mellor. Working within Supersport rules, they raised the Triumph engine's output from 111bhp to over 130bhp. This was achieved mainly by cylinder head tuning, altered valve timing, a revised exhaust system and by re-mapping the computerised fuel injection and ignition systems.
The Daytonas faced stiff opposition on short circuits but Jones gained his first podium finish in 2003's final Supersport round at Donington Park. However, the season's peak achievement was at the TT, where 'real roads' specialists Bruce Anstey and John McGuinness joined Moodie in the ValMoto line-up. New Zealander Anstey swept to victory in the 600cc Junior TT, taking Triumph's first TT win since Slippery Sam's 1975 750cc Production success. Moodie finished 9th and McGuinness 10th, securing Triumph the Manufacturers Award. All three machines on display were used at the 2003 TT
A winter of work at ValMoto made the Daytona more competitive in the 2004 short circuit Supersport series, as was proved by Craig Jones' win at the Donington Park round. But when Triumph replaced its 600cc four the Daytona 650 for 2005, the company bowed out of Supersport racing
One of the Daytonas used at the 2003 TT, was also used by Callum Ramsay to win the Supersport race at the Macau Grand Prix in 2004