XtraPix: English Bikes, Italian Passion

In a land filled with blood-red Ducatis, otherworldly Bimotas and similarly exotic two-wheelers, it seems a little odd that Triumphs have such a fanatical following as they do in Italy. But the Italians are maniacs for the brand, in particular the Maestro of Thugdom Speed Triple.

I got to see all this firsthand when I flew to the province of Parma in northern Italy last year to visit the Varano racetrack for Triumph Day, a national celebration of the British marque. About 1000 people showed up for the three-day party, with racing, plenty of food, music and dancing, plus some of the coolest customized Triumphs I’ve seen. We also got an early glimpse of the naked 675 in the form of stunter Kevin Carmichael’s stripped Daytona he used for part of his excellent front-straight thrill show.

But the highlight of the weekend was a team endurance race. Three riders on three bikes, with pit stops to swap the neon-green vest to the next pilot. I was teamed with two English writers and was riding a Thruxton Cup bike in a loud pink-and-checkered paint scheme, while my teammates rode a 675 and Speed Triple. We never were a threat for the lead or even on the radar of the regional teams (Sicily, Milano, etc.) on track, but we had a good time racing anyway.

During downtime, the paddock was a true scene and even a mild freak show. The party on Saturday night was unparalleled in my experience, with more good food, wine and grappa per capita than would be legal in the States. Check out the photo gallery for a taste of Triumphs, Italian style, but don’t expect any paddock-party photos. They’re too incriminating…

Sound Off! Do Triumphs inspire your passion?