Former Supersport World Champion Sebastien Charpentier has left the Triumph BE1 Racing World Supersport team, the Frenchman lasting just one round of his comeback year and being replaced by Matthieu Lagrive.

The Frenchman joined the Triumph squad following a two-year sabbatical from the sport but has decided to withdraw from the championship after failing to demonstrate the pace which made him a two-time champion in the opening round of the season at Phillip Island in Australia.

Following Charpentier’s decision to leave Triumph BE1 Racing, the squad has engaged the services of fellow French rider Lagrive. The 30-year-old from Lisieux is an experienced supersport campaigner with 72 starts in the class, with two pole positions and a best finish of third place to his name.

Lagrive will experience the three-cylinder Triumph Daytona 675 for the first time when he tests with team-mates Chaz Davies, Jason DiSalvo and David Salom at Valencia on Thursday and will make his race debut in round two of the championship in Portimao, Portugal on 26-28 March.