Triumph's Triple Challenge (TTC) kicks off the 2013 season this Friday at Brands Hatch (5th April 2013). With a new bike and a grid packed with exciting new riders, it will be the series to watch for the next big racing star.

There will be 34 riders on the grid for the 2013 season, over three quarters being new to the TTC. However, there are also some returning faces! Third and fourth place last year, Phil Atkinson and Chrissy Rouse, are back as well as Ben Taylor, Piers Hutchins, Dan Fuller, Richard Steadman and Sam Cox.

“It’s great to be back for another season in the TTC, and this year we are going all out to try and win the title,”  said Rouse. “Last year was a bit of a learning one for me, I had to get used to the bigger bike but I really enjoyed it.

“This year I’m in a strong position. I know the bike, I know the circuits and I know how competitive the series is – it’s not going to be easy but my focus is on the championship.”

After the success of South African’s James Egan and Phil Atkinson last year, the TTC has attracted more riders from outside the UK. This year Aleix Aulestia from Spain, who has previously won the National Superstock 600 in his country, joins the grid. Straight from Florida and the AMA Pro Road Racing Series, Michael Corbino will also be racing in the TTC.

This year the series organisers T3 Racing have upgraded to the brand new Triumph Daytona 675R. The bike is lighter and more powerful that the standard Daytona 675 the series has been running for the past two years. Rouse has already reported the bike was extremely fast in testing compared to the last model.

Race one of the season will take place at 16.30 on Saturday, the first real chance to see who the contenders will be this year. So far, speculation suggests Freddy Pett, Rouse and Atkinson have the edge but with so many new riders from different backgrounds it’s all to play for.