Triumph tweaks 765 triple for Moto2 2023

Next year when the MotoGP season kicks off, the Moto2 riders will be expecting quicker laps times and more lap records to fall. That’s because Triumph has done some development work on the internals of the 765cc three-cylinder engine powering all the Moto2 machines.

With changes to the pistons, cylinder head, valves, cams and crank, they’ve managed to add 5PS (now to over 140PS, previously 138PS) and an additional 400rpm, with the goal of more speed and overtaking opportunities.

The announcement was made just before the Donnington round of MotoGP held after the end of the summer break. Triumph has been supplying engines for Moto2 racing since 2019, having taken over from Honda which supplied the series with a 600cc four-cylinder powerplant. The Moto2 engine is a direct development of that found in Triumph’s Street Triple RS motorcycle.

Since Moto2 racers started using the new engine, there have been 68 new lap and outright records set, 20 different winners and, for the first time ever, a top speed in excess of 300km/h. 

With the extra performance, commentators suggest the bigger engine has closed the gap to the MotoGP category in terms of performance, making Moto2 more relevant as a feeder category. 

The engine has propelled the Moto2 bikes to almost one million competition kilometres. To maintain reliability with added power via head development, improvements have focused on the pistons, conrods and crankshaft to cope with the higher combustion chamber pressures and added revs.

Carlos Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports Managing Director, commented: “Since the start of the Triumph era in Moto2, we’ve been very satisfied with the performance and reliability of the Triumph 765cc triple and the lap records speak for themselves. We’re very happy with the work of Triumph in powering Moto2 and to see the way that they are constantly evaluating and improving the engine.”