Celebrating great brand with a great band – it's a Triumph at the track

Thousands of bike fans have paid tribute to an iconic British brand.

A three-day festival at Mallory Park race track over the weekend saw 9,000 people celebrate all things Triumph.

Triumph Live 2012 had the theme 110 Years of Triumph, with festival-goers treated to displays on and off the track of the beauty and power of the machines made nearby in Hinckley.

On the track, racing included an official round of the Triumph Triple Challenge, while the brand's stunt riders wowed the crowds with their skills.

Off the track, self-confessed bike fan, actor and TV funny man Rufus Hound hosted two nights of live music on a main stage.

On Friday night, he introduced indie favourites Reef and on Saturday night, the Kaiser Chiefs rocked the circuit to a packed crowd.

The Chiefs were supported by bands including Leicestershire acts Feedback Voice and Formal Warning.

Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson had used the Kirkby Mallory race track to do some practice for his bike test.

He said: "I thought it would be good to come down here and do that before playing.

"If we're going to do a bike show and there are going to be lots of bikes, it will be great if I can sound like I know what I'm talking about."

Models of Triumphs in the exhibition included ones ridden by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape and by Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Terminator movie and Tom Cruise in his Mission Impossible films.

Kieron Henfrey, of Leicester Forest East, made the short trip to the event with his family.

Mr Henfrey, 37, said: "I am a big fan of the Triumph bikes. I have a Tiger 1050 myself.

"Having this on our doorstep is great and there was no way I was not going to come along."

His wife Marie, 35, said their two-year-old son Charlie was loving the bikes.

She said: "I am not a big bike fan myself but I can appreciate the beauty of them.

"This is a great event and has a very nice family feel to it.

"When the bikes started up on the track and made a really loud noise, Charlie started to cry.

"I thought he was scared by the noise, but he told me he was crying because he wanted to have a go on the bikes himself."

Bike fan Glyn Farman, of Kirby Frith, near Glenfield, was at the event on Saturday and Sunday to see and photograph the bikes and the action.

Glyn, 41, said: "There are thousands of bikes and it is such a spectacular sight when they all leave together on Sunday.

"There is something here for everyone and it is good that such a thing can be organised in Leicestershire."

Debbie Swepson, of Western Park, Leicester, was at the event with daughter Charlotte.

Debbie, 49, said: "My husband Mark works for Triumph so I wanted to come along and see the 110 Years exhibition.

"The bikes are amazing and I have had a very nice day out at Mallory Park."

Charlotte said: "The bikes are okay but I am only really here for the Kaiser Chiefs."

Derren Carlisle, 22, of New Parks, Leicester, said: "It is an impressive display and a fascinating day out.

"What makes it all the more impressive is that Triumph is a company from Hinckley doing so well."