2019
TRIUMPH
SPEED
TRIPLE
y crikey it’s cool as I head over the
Bombay Hills south of Auckland,
heading for Hampton Downs and the
launch of the Triumph’s new Speed
Triple. The visor has fogged and for the
first time since swa ing out my
for
the Thruxton R, I regret the lack of heated
grips. I’ve taken out the Pinlock in the visor,
as need all the vis can get on my first
ever Track Day, and the fog necessitates a
crack of fresh air, blast-chilling my cheeks
and nose. y
am am among a steady
stream of Aucklanders and Hamiltonians
rolling into the Downs Park on myriad
marques and models.
Organised brilliantly by Triumph NZ, the
day proceeds faultlessly from registration,
scrutineering, briefing and coffee, to the first
groups up to run in four sessions every hour
till about 4pm. I’m in the novice session, and
about twelve of us are track-virgins.
While us trembling newbs get sorted,
56 KIWI RIDER
Triumph has the line up of new Speed
Triples and and a few Street triples set up
to whet the appetites and passions of the
review crews from around the country.
Whilst we tackle the discovery of late
braking, learning the track, apex corners
and tyre grip in one way circulation, the
reviewers head off on the road ride to
discover the joy that the highly anticipated
new triple Speedie will bring.
Let me just say that catering was so good
my rigidly enforced diet went straight out
the window. And the good numbers who
turned out were fed morning tea, lunch and
afternoon tea, and stuffed to over owing
with e ce tional offerings.
The track riders circulated without incident,
and this particular grinning novice now
dreams of the next day on track, and
the possible acquisition of some proper
leathers... oh dear. How to explain that to
the missus?