Troy Dog
Jalek Swoll and Triumph have done it! They earned their first overall podium of the season, but it was Triumph’s first ever as an OEM.
(It was the first podium for the team’s gear brand Renen as well.)
It’s been a pretty impressive rise for Triumph, who is coming into every race weekend to tracks that they have never been to. The team doesn’t have any data on how their bikes are going to do until practice. Then you have the whole practice isn’t actually racing thing. The point is, the team has to learn on the fly at every track, but that’s apart of the process that they always expected in their first season.
“We just have to show up,” Swoll said in the post race press conference. “Obviously we have a good setup and a good bike, but you just never know. Showing up, getting the data, and racing while learning is the toughest part.”
So, to have Swoll go 6-4 for 3rd overall at Unadilla was a perfect scenario on a tricky, rut filled, course.
Swoll has been close to getting a podium a few times this year, especially during the 250SX East Region Championship. However, each time he was close something would go wrong, like a crash, or something that prevented it from happening. It’s almost like the moto gods owed him one.
“I’ve been close a lot this year,” Swoll said. “I found myself in a lot of positions where I could make a podium happen and obviously some things didn’t go my way this year to get on the box earlier. I’ve always been close, which has kind of driven me all year.”
Consistency has been key for Swoll this season. Despite Triumph entering the mix this season, they’ve found the right recipe for Swoll. In the 18 rounds that Swoll has raced, he’s finished inside the top ten in 12 of those races. He finished 5-7-6-11 through the first four rounds of Pro Motocross, then had a bad moto at Southwick and RedBud, which put him at 18th and 15th overall respectfully. Then in the past three rounds Swoll has gone 11-8-3.
“I’ve been pumped with the bike,” Swoll said. “I’ve been fast, hit or miss here and there, but for the most part I’ve felt pretty consistent with the bike and with my speed.”
With the first podium pressure off of his shoulders, Swoll is looking forward to the future with Triumph in 2025. The program will be adding riders and Jordon Smith has been rumored to have a long term deal in place already with the team, although nothing has been announced officially. We also originally were told that Triumph would be launching their 450 program in 2025, but no riders have been linked to the team on that front that we know of…yet.
For now it’s Swoll and Joey Savatgy holding it down for Triumph and the future looks bright.
“Obviously next year when I get some actual teammates to ride with and everything I think it will escalate the speed and endurance. I’m really excited for next year and I’m excited to be with the brand.”
Main Image: Octopi Media
