HISTORIC FIRST PODIUM FOR TF 250-X AT MXGP ROUND ONE
Mikkel Haarup goes 5-2 for third overall in Argentina
Triumph’s TF 250-X has made an exceptional debut in the MX2 World Championship, with Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s MX2 racer Mikkel Haarup placing a stunning third overall at the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina.
Delivering a truly outstanding performance at the 2024 season-opener, the Dane followed up his first-moto fifth with a close runner-up finish in race two to secure Triumph’s first overall podium result in the MX2 World Championship.
Heading to the start line for race one confident of a strong showing, Haarup emerged from the first turn with the leading riders. Starting from seventh, Haarup was up to fifth within a few laps and stayed with the frontrunners to the very end of the opening moto.
Excited to improve upon his race one result, Mikkel started moto two in the best way possible by taking a stunning holeshot! Leading the world for nearly five laps, the 22-year-old slipped to second then found himself locked in a fierce battle for the moto victory. Charging hard to the finish, Haarup crossed the finish line as a close runner-up, just under two seconds from the race win, and was rewarded with third overall.
Following an incredible day of action in Argentina, Monster Energy Triumph Racing will now return to Europe and prepare for round two of the 2024 FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Spain, on March 23-24.
Mikkel Haarup: “Yeah, it’s been a really amazing start to the season! A podium is perfect and a great way to start the year for myself, and Monster Energy Triumph Racing. My qualifying race was not so good, but I knew that I had the speed to run in the top three today. All through the off-season we have been building and building and what we’ve achieved today is the result of a lot of hard work by everyone involved.
“I felt comfortable on the bike all weekend and that was really important on a tricky track like this. Today we’ve shown what this bike is capable of and overall, I’m really happy with my performance.”
Vincent Bereni, Monster Energy Triumph Racing Team Manager: “A great start for the team and also Triumph. It has been a long road to get here and clearly, hard work pays off. Everyone on the team, the riders, the mechanics, everyone has worked so hard to get here and what Mikkel has achieved today is incredible. We knew we would be competitive but until you race, you never really know. But now we do.”
With a class-leading power to weight ratio and the most complete specification package, the TF 250-X was officially revealed in November. Developed entirely by Triumph, the new four stroke competition model is an all-new ground-up design. The performance racing powertrain and unique aluminium chassis are ultra compact and super light, with all the best components on the market, already fitted out of the crate.
The TF 250-X will be available from a new Triumph network of specialist motocross dealers from Spring 2024.
Results – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina
MX2 Race 1:
1. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 34:23.626
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:25.711
3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:26.108
4. Marc Antoine-Rossi (GASGAS) 34:35.934
5. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph) 34:36.403
6. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 34:56.363
11. Camden McLellan (Triumph) 35:12.556
MX2 Race 2:
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:55.608
2. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph) 34:57.163
3. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 35:07.235
4. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 35:09.470
5. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 35:36.258
6. Camden McLellan (Triumph) 35:37.174
MX2 Overall
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 47pts
2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 43pts
3. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph) 38pts
4. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34pts
5. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 29pts
6. Ferruccio Zanchi (Honda) 27pts
9. Camden McLellan (Triumph) 25pts
MX2 World Championship Standings
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 56pts
2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 50pts
3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 40pts
4. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph) 38pts
5. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 37pts
6. Marc-Antoine Rossi (GASGAS) 32pts
10. Camden McLellan (Triumph) 25pts