THE LEGEND RETURNS TO BAJA

ERNIE VIGIL RACES THE NEW SCRAMBLER 1200 XE AT THE GRUELLING MEXICAN 1000 April 26 – May 3 2019

Triumph Motorcycles are excited to confirm their return to the off-road endurance racing world with the new Scrambler 1200 XE at the Norra Mexican 1000 race, piloted by stunt rider and off-road racer Ernie Vigil.

Ernie Vigil is one of Triumph’s factory riders, and an experienced off-road racer, and was very likely the first person to have completed the Mexican 1000 on board a Triumph Tiger 800.

Now fully recovered and fit for action following an injury during training in October 2018, Ernie has spent the last 3 weeks in Southern California with the race-ready Scrambler 1200 completing his final preparations for this gruelling challenge.

Ernie’s Scrambler 1200 XE is in near-standard condition, and has only had additional specific desert racing seat, lights, grips and extreme profile sand tyres. Topping off the race spec features, there is also a unique off-road racing scheme with Triumph’s signature Black and White paint and graphics.

The Scrambler 1200 XE is an all-new benchmark-setting motorcycle that represents a first for dual-purpose capability and modern custom style. This beautiful new 1200 scrambler delivers a category redefining level of performance, specification and finish, fused with Triumph’s iconic Scrambler DNA and all the capability of a genuine adventure motorcycle.

The Norra Mexican 1000 is an incredible off-road racing challenge that takes in more than 1,000 miles across rocky desert, tackling quicksand, unpredictable 1,000bhp racing trucks and the elements. If you want to compete in extreme endurance races on a motorcycle, the Mexican 1000 is one of the biggest. Starting in Ensenada, Mexico, the original 1,000-mile route (which is where it gets its name) kicked off in 1967. The route changes and the distance varies but it is always around 1,000 miles, and promises one thing: an incredible challenge.

The Mexican 1000 is being run on the very same arduous course and conditions as the Baja 1000, which is the same terrain that made the Triumph Scrambler name famous in the 1960s, so the Scrambler 1200XE will be put to the ultimate scrambling test. As this is such a highly challenging competition, Ernie, who was selected for both his experience and incredible commitment as well as his passion for this project, has been in full training for many weeks.

Ernie Vigil said: “After 9 months of training, the injury and over 6,000 off-road miles in the saddle I’m excited to be getting to the final stage of prep for one of the most challenging off-road races you can do. I literally can’t wait to get to that starting line and fire the Scrambler up! The bike has been performing amazingly well and I’m raring to go.”

Paul Stroud, Triumph’s Chief Commercial Officer said: “Everyone at Triumph is rooting for Ernie, his commitment to returning to race fitness following his injury has been amazing and we just can’t wait to see the Scrambler 1200 in action. Baja desert racing has played such a big part in the history of scrambling and it was the spark that kicked off of our whole iconic Scrambler line-up.

Please click here for more details on the New Scrambler 1200 XC & XE.

For further information contact Tom Robinson on Tom.Robinson@Triumph.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About Triumph

First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 110 years of motorcycle manufacture in 2012. For more than two decades, Triumph Motorcycles has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and has produced iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma and performance.
Building around 65,000 bikes per year, Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer and has around 620 dealers across the world.
This focus, innovation and engineering passion has today created a broad range of bikes suited to all motorcycle riders, including the iconic new Scrambler 1200, epic Speed Triple, the game changing all new Street Triple 765, the class defining Tiger 800, transcontinental Tiger 1200, iconic Triumph Bonneville family including the stunning Speed Twin, Bonneville Bobber, legendary Thruxton, accessible Street Twin, Street Scramble and iconic Bonneville T120 and T100, plus an exciting and accessible A2 range of Triumph motorcycles
Triumph currently employs around 2,000 personnel worldwide and has subsidiary operations in the UK, North America, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Sweden (Scandinavia), Benelux, Brazil, India and Thailand as well as a network of independent distributors. Triumph has manufacturing facilities in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and Thailand plus CKD facilities in Brazil and India.
The Triumph Bonneville, famously named to celebrate Triumph’s 1956 land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, was the original British superbike and a race-winner straight out of the crate. Chosen by famous motorcyclists of the past for its legendary handling, style, and character. It’s that handling, character and style, married to modern rider-focused technology that makes the new Bonneville family THE authentic modern classic choice today.
Triumph has a glorious racing history, competing in and winning races in almost every class and field of motorcycle sporting achievement. From winning the second ever Isle of Man TT in 1908, through to 1960s road and track domination in Europe and America, right up to contemporary racing achievements with the 675cc Triumph triple powered 2014 Daytona 200 win, the 2014 Isle of Man Supersports TT, 2014 and 2015 British Supersports titles and World SuperSport racing. And now with the new generation of 765cc triple engine powering the 2019 Moto2™ championship, Triumph’s racing legend continues.