Triumph France is about to throw the wraps off a new custom build-off contest for dealers, and we’ve got a sneak peek at one of the entries. Built by Triumph Limoges, it’s a flat tracker based on the 1,200 cc Speed Twin. And it’s set the bar extremely high.
Remarkably, shop boss Nicolas Ginouves is new to the brand; Triumph Limoges has only been operating for four months. But he’s got almost two decades of bike dealership experience, and has tasted build-off victory before. And his workshop manager Denis used to be the technician on a championship-winning endurance racing team.

The shop picked the Triumph Speed Twin because they had to (it’s in the rules), but decided to turn it into a flat tracker because they wanted to. Flat track racing is enjoying exponential growth in Europe right now, and the Triumph Limoges crew are fans. ?For decades we have been admiring the pictures and videos coming from the other side of the Atlantic,? says Nicolas. ?Of riders, wheel to wheel, chasing each other on dirt ovals, and without a front brake. The motorcycle race par excellence, the absolute holy grail of riding, the show in its purest state… the flat track!?

Inspiration hit hard at the end of last year, when the team attended a race day at the Marmande grass track near Bordeaux. Their eyes were drawn to a yellow 1967-model Triumph TR6 flat tracker, belonging to racer and enthusiast Cristophe Canitrot. When Triumph France asked them shortly aft...