This Saturday, May 30, Triumph will write a new chapter in its history by making its debut in the premier class of AMA Pro Motocross at the season opener at Fox Raceway. Riding the TF 450-X will be Danish rider Mikkel Haarup and American Jordon Smith, two riders who have already become key figures in the British manufacturer’s rise.
Haarup was the rider who delivered Triumph its first-ever MXGP podium, achieved during the brand’s world championship debut two years ago in Argentina. Smith, meanwhile, secured Triumph’s first victory in the 250SX division of AMA Supercross. Now, both riders will lead the manufacturer’s debut in the 450 division of AMA Pro Motocross.
The Dane arrives after an impressive rookie AMA Pro Motocross season last year, where he finished sixth in the 250 championship despite missing two rounds. Now 24 years old, Haarup steps up to the TF 450-X with growing confidence ahead of his second year in the American outdoor series.
Mikkel Haarup | #30
“Training has actually been going really well and the main focus has been building my fitness and spending as much time on the bike as possible. We’ve been working towards this season for a long time now, and over the last few weeks we’ve continued making small improvements with the bike. Nothing major, just refining the setup and getting everything more comfortable for me heading into the new season. Over the last few weeks, we’ve spent a lot of time at the test track working closely as a team and continuing to improve the bike together. The bike has been feeling great and we’ve made some positive steps with the chassis recently, which has given me a lot more confidence. It’s been a while since I’ve raced outdoors consistently, but looking at the tracks on the schedule and the progress we’ve made as a team, I feel like I’m in a really good place. I’m feeling relaxed, comfortable, and excited to get the season started and see where we stack up against the competition.”
Jordon Smith | #20
“It’s been nice to shift gears after a tough Supercross season, and training has been positive. The focus heading into Pro Motocross has mainly been on my riding and technique, as we haven’t made too many changes to the bike. I had to take about a week off after my crash in Salt Lake City, but I’ve recovered well and I’m feeling strong heading into the new season. Even though I haven’t been able to do as many motos as I would have liked, I feel like we’ve used the time we’ve had really well and I’m ready to get the season started. I’m feeling good on the bike too. We’ve made a few small changes with the gearing and suspension, and overall I think we’re in a good place heading into Pala. My approach for the season is to give everything I have, every moto throughout the summer. I know there will be a learning curve racing a 450 outdoors, but I’m excited for the challenge. The goal is to be battling inside the top 10 early on and then keep progressing closer to the front as the season goes on.”
