Norton back on track

Norton back on Track

German motorsport magazine Speedweek is reporting Norton may be planning a return to MotoGP racing under the new 1000cc rules in 2012.

The iconic British motorcycle name is being revived by Stuart Garner, who has set up a facility near Donington Park in England. They currently have a 588cc race bike, (shown above) powered by a rotary engine, and have a larger 700cc version under development. It would seem likely they would develop a 1000cc 4 cylinder powerplant for the reported MotoGP effort.

Norton Motorcycles (UK) also currently produce a range of retro styled Commando's, a 961cc twin available in 3 variants.
The Commando range features the Sport, the Cafe Racer, and the SE, priced from around 12,500 pounds, up to nearly 16,000 pounds (22-28k AUD).

These great looking roadsters mix retro styling with Ohlins suspension and Brembo braking systems. The 961 twin is a 2 valve pushrod design, with fuel injection and dry sump. Peak power is around 80horsepower at 6500rpm.

Images from Norton UK