- Official Norton team returns to world famous TT races for the first time since 1993

- New owners demonstrate commitment to Norton’s racing pedigree


Norton Motorcycles will make its long awaited return to the legendary Isle of Man TT Races in May 2009 after an absence of 16 years. In an historic deal, the brand was recently brought back to the UK after 15 years stateside by bike enthusiast and owner of Norton Racing, Stuart Garner.

Michael Dunlop, 21, son of the late motorcycle legend Robert Dunlop, will pilot the Norton NRV 588 on its TT debut in the Senior Race over the notorious 37¾ mile circuit. Michael commented:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to make history with Norton’s return to one of the world’s most famous races - a real highlight of the racing calendar. It means a lot to me as I will be following in my father’s bike tracks as he finished third on his JPS Norton when he competed in 1992.”

Stuart Garner, chief executive at Norton Motorcycles said:

“This is the first time since 1993 that an official Norton team has raced at the TT. We have a fantastic racing pedigree with the brand established over 100 years ago and our aim is to emulate the success Norton race bikes achieved particularly in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. The 588cc Norton race bike has been developed over the last year by Brian Crighton and the Spondon engineering team and we are confident that 2009 will prove to be a significant milestone in the history of this famous UK motorcycle brand.”

Hon Martyn Quayle MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure, Isle of Man Government said:

“Having Norton back in the TT is sensational news. It will truly be an historic occasion within the competitions history. They were a fabulous crowd pleaser and we have every confidence this will be the first of many successful races for the Norton team.”

Norton Motorcycles UK manufacturing plant is at Donington Park. The company plans to hand-build 200 race bikes and a road-legal version of the NRV 588 in 2009, both which will go on sale in the spring.

Isn't it great news !!

Michael will certainly have his hands full, I remember Steve Hislop telling me that it wasn't the easiest bike to ride with the over-run situation. I'm sure Michael will do what's necessary and bring it home in a high placing.

It is good to hear all the news about TT2009 and it sure shows that the likes of Paul and his team have the bit between their teeth, as it were. I hope there will be many more similarly stimulating announcements. Do the Russians still make race bikes ???

I'll be 70 next year and I still find the TT exciting.

Well done ALL concerned.

I look forward to seeing you all in 2009.

And here it is:

...and who is the delectable dolly at the front ???

You may e nudging 70 Ian, but the radar is still working!!

Ian, I'm afraid I got talking to Simon Crellin and completely forgot to get the young lady's name. I must be getting old...

So, by way of compensation, here's some more of the Norton etc

Thanks for all the pickies, great..

I have just been up in my Tardis-like loft (bigger inside than out it seems) to dig out the press info, firstly on the Trevor Nation/Robert Dunlop years and of course the Steve Hislop year.

Now here is a question...Who else rode the Nortons at the TT in this time period ?? and who were the managers ?? (Barry Simmons was one)

I remember being a "freelance find-a-story runner" for the late great Norrie Whyte of MCN and on my skirmishes in and around the scrutineering bay (I still find lots of info there), saw the Nortons being refused access to practice one evening due to the fact they were too late for scrutineering.

I dashed to the press office to tell Norrie and he and I (we were about the same build even then !) running back to where the Norton team were having a barnie with the chief scrutineer .

They got through eventually but Trevor blotted his copy book by wheelying off the start....and going over backwards and sideways like George Formby in No Limit.

Trevor of the red face eventually tried again but the beautiful fairing was a bit scarred to say the least. He was a bit de-tuned as well !
Final question. Who will be the major sponsor for Norton in 2009......?

By the way, there is a lot of Norton stuff on E-bay !! I've got a lovely keyring and some badges !

ian huntly Wrote:Now here is a question...Who else rode the Nortons at the TT in this time period ?? and who were the managers ?? (Barry Simmons was one)

Steve Cull partnered Trevor Nation in 1989. I think Nick Collis was in charge of the team in 1988, and possibly worked with Barry Simmons in 1989. I'm not 100% sure about this though.

Best of luck to Michael Dunlop and Norton with this venture - it's an exciting prospect!

Simon Buckmaster & Trevor Nation in 88 , Cull & Nation in 89 i think , of course Robert Dunlop & Hizzy in 92 .

Well done you all, yes the first manager was Nick Collis, does anyone know his whereabouts now ??

I agree that it is a great combination of a Dunlop with the Norton but do they place it all on Michaels shoulders or will there be another rider to support him ? I hope they colour it silver since it truly is the "Silver Dream Racer".

I think Guy Martin would make a major contribution too.

Any other suggestions ?

Watch and listen to: http://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/video/p...0162839033

at the bottom of the page when the above link finishes, there appears a small window saying "Norton at Mallory".. Click on this one !!!

This is great !!


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Here's one more question....Can anyone help please ?

I was at a launch a few years ago when the Norton was painted orange and yellow, Colin Seeley and Michael Crichton were more or less in charge and Jim Moodie was put forward as a rider..
Nothing came of this but the bike eventually came out in those colours with the race number 25, NOT ridden by Jim Moodie.

Anyone help me on year, rider and background ?? I still have all the photos and I have one taken with Jim standing next to the bike.

I also have photos of Norton in red, white and blue livery when it first came on the race scene....Year please ??

Heavens, the stuff I have stored in my loft, it is seriously a vast collection....

Hello Ian , Jim did indeed ride the Norton in the Duckhams clours in the 1993 British Super bike Champuionships finishing second overall to Jamie Whitham on the Fast Orange Yamahas , in 94 Ian Simpson won the championship for Norton with Moodie again second on the Loctite Yamaha . Cheers Shaun

The red white & blue colour scheme was i think in 87 with Simon Buckmaster & trevor Nation riding them .

I wonder what development has been done since the last time Norton raced? The frame etc looks very similar to the 93 version, it still looks the business though!

Who are all the riders in the photo? I recognize Anstey, Connor, Michael Dunlop, McGuinness, Lougher,

When Brian Crighton brought the Norton name back in 1987, it was essentially him, former Manx GP winner Dave Hickman, Dave Evans and Malcomh Heath - Heath rode the bike initally as well and it ran it red, blue and silver colours. This colourscheme was kept for 1988 when Trevor Nation and Simon Buckmaster rode it - Steve Spray and Andy McGladdery also had outings on it, both winning races.

JPS came in from 1989-1992 with the riders being:
1989 - Spray, Nation and Steve Cull.
1990 - Nation, Spray and Robert Dunlop for the roads
1991 - Ron Haslam, Nation and Robert.
1992 - Haslam, Robert with Terry Rymer replacing the injured Haslam. JPS didn't sponsor the road effort though - Robert was sponsored by Hymac/John Kennedy with Hizzy of course on the white Abus Norton.

In 1993, Duckhams took over as title sponsor with Colin Seeley as team manager and Jim Moodie the sole rider. 1994 saw Ian Simpson and Phil Borley taking over rider duties and of course went on to finish 1st and 3rd in the British Superbike Championship.

There was also the Roton 588 that Crighton developed when he was, briefly, left out of the main Norton set-up. This had a blue fairing and riders included Australian Grant Hodson and Spray, who got a pint at the 1991 Australian GP at Eastern Creek.

Apologies if I've missed other riders out!

I can't recall ever seeing a Norton in orange and yellow colours.

Paul Owen, Jamie Robinson and James Hillier are also on the picture.

and Gary Johnson, Olie Linsdell and James McBride.

Hey, thank you for the excellent list of information on the Norton, Mr Phil Wain, they should get you to write a Norton section in the TT Programme for 2009.

It certainly filled in the gaps....I had forgotten that Andy McGladdery was on the list..

Surprisingly, quite a few riders rode the Rotary with mixed successes.

We tend to remember only Steve Hizzie and Robert Micro but Norton can claim some good results with this awesome machine. I saw a photo in colour somewhere with a long plume of flame coming out of the exhaust.. Anyone know where I could get a copy please ?