Triumph has launched a new 250 cc engine for motocross, which will be used in top-level competition this year. Under the new ‘Triumph Racing’ banner, Triumph Motorcycle factory supported teams will contest the FIM 250 cc Motocross World Championship and the AMA 250 cc SuperMotocross World Championship. The aim is to develop a 450 cc sister bike to contest the top category in both series in 2025.

Triumph is well established in racing as the provider since 2019 of the spec engine for the Moto2 class that supports MotoGP. That engine is a 765 cc I3, derived from the marque’s road bike with mechanical parts that are largely standard, although the engine’s performance has been improved, primarily through increased port sizes, optimised for higher revs and greater power.  

All of the Moto2 engines are identical, and they are built, serviced and maintained by Spanish company Externpro. By contrast, the new motocross programme is using a brand-new engine, purpose-designed for the sport and developed from customer specs as appropriate for World Championship competition.

The bike is known as the TF 250-X and regular customer versions are now on sale. Triumph reports that it has been a four-year programme from conception to on sale.

The engine in question is a port-injected, liquid-cooled, four-stroke single with double overhead camshafts, not dissimilar to a 250 cc KTM single, the top dog in motocross internationally. Triumph reports the use of a forged aluminium piston and four titanium valves. DLC coatings are said to help ensure low-friction engine operation.

The TF 250-X exhaust is made up of a 40 mm-diameter header pipe and features a resonator, and it is paired with a hydroformed silencer. Triumph further reports that the ignition and clutch covers are constructed of magnesium for minimum weight. The clutch is an Exedy Belleville type, actuated by a Brembo hydraulic system.