Triumph announced their 2008 range at the Paris Bike show – “The award-winning Daytona 675 comes with new side-fairing decals for 2008, along with a gold anodised top nut and improved headlight performance. Alongside the standard model, there’s the Daytona 675 SE – a 2008 specification 675 with a sultry Phantom Black paint scheme, black engine covers, gold finished wheels and gold coloured decals.”

The 2008 model change really only covered aesthetic changes, the model year can be easily identified due to the noticeable decal change. The 2008 SE variant marked the first of yearly special editions Triumph would bring out and they proved to be popular model choice. 2008 also marked the last year of the first generation Daytona 675’s, where in 2009 the model was revamped.

» New decals on side fairings
» Gold, anodised top nut
» Improved headlight performance
» New colours: Neon Blue and Phantom Black (SE).

In 2008 Triumph competed in the World Supersport Championship (WSS). This was the first time Triumph has ventured into racing on the world stage since the company was re-established in Hinckley. Team Triumph–SC will be run by Stefano Caracchi who will base the team in Bologna, Italy. Carrachi’s team, previously known as “Ducati-SC” has a very good history of racing Ducatis in World Supersport and World Superbike. However, they have decided to switch from Ducati and use Triumph instead.

Triumph’s Product Manager, Simon Warburton, said “This is a really exciting opportunity for Triumph and the factory is behind the team 100%. The Daytona 675 has won many awards since its launch and participating in the Supersport World Championship will further raise the profile of this fantastic bike and Triumph’s profile in general.”

Stefano Caracchi, addressing the press during the announcement, commented:
“The Supersport and Superstock 600 are very competitive and hard categories, but we are very confident in the potential of the Daytona 675. Our team has contested the World Superbike Championship ever since the first series and we have a highly talented and experienced technical staff to develop the Daytona to meet this new challenge. Triumph has welcomed our project with enthusiasm, and we will repay their confidence. Triumph is a legend for every motorsport fan, and Team SC is proud to become a small part of this long and fascinating history”

To celebrate the partnership Triumph-SC has made a very special replica of Garry McCoy’s World Supersport Daytona 675. This engine is an exact copy of the Superstock 600 machine and the bike is also road-worthy. The replica’s were being sold for $22,000 (about £18,000) or $5,000 (about £3,000) for a replica kit. (We’ve not seen any of these in the UK)

The British-built three-cylinder machine saw off competition from its supersport-class rivals at the Almeria circuit in southern Spain. The Triumph set faster lap times than the four-cylinder machines from the Japanese manufacturers which, combined with the testers’ favourable comments, gave the Daytona 675 a clear advantage.

Supertest is an annual event organised by 15 leading motorcycle magazines in the world with representation from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Each publication sends a test rider to the circuit, with each bike being scored on its best lap times and rider feedback. The Triumph remains unbeaten in the competition, having won each year since its introduction for the 2006 model year.

“Winning the title three years in a row is quite an achievement,” commented Triumph’s Commercial Director Tue Mantoni. “Our bike has proven itself against two generations of Japanese competition and is a great testament to our design and engineering teams. Our philosophy is to build motorcycles that are class leading, while remaining distinctively Triumph. Strong sales figures and winning comparison tests like Supertest are confirmation that our bikes are striking the correct chord with riders, and continue to motivate us in developing more new and exciting products for the coming years.”