Like the legendary Australian opera singer of last cenntury, Dame Nellie Melba, who became nearly as famous for her “retirements” as she was for her singing, the possibility of a comeback to racing of the famous British marque, Norton, has reared its ugly head again.
The following article from crash.net tonight says…
“The British manufacturer would use an entry into the premier class as a chance to re-launch itself on the motorcycling stage.
The iconic British marque has a long history of success in motor racing, but has been absent from the competition scene for decades now.
However, having been bought out in 2008 by UK businessman Stuart Garner, Norton – which is now based at Donington Park – is currently in the process of being re-launched, with plans for a Superbike and Supersport in the pipeline.
Furthermore, MotoGP is considered an ideal platform to promote Norton’s new modern image, with Speedweek.ch reporting that Dorna has already accepted a two-rider entry for 2012.
It is anticipated it would run under the ‘Claiming Rule Team’, which would enable it more fuel and engines for the season than it would as a factory entry.
The decision to change the rules from 2012 has seen a handful of names linked to a MotoGP move, most notably Aprilia and BMW, though only the Italian manufacturer has expressed a modicum of recent interest.”
Now I don’t know about you, but I am as skeptical about this as I am about all the other rumours that have surrounded Norton since its death in the late 1970’s. The name has been owned by a whole shed-full of people, most of whom have been more interested in using the name to make some money for themselves rather than revive the revered marque, and almost all of these “comebacks” have sunk without a trace.
In the same way as I am amused by the legion of modern-day Triumph owners who would have us believe that their machines have a connection to the Triumphs of old (they don’t), the apologists for Norton want us to believe that a modern bike with the magic name on the tank is somehow a bloodline successor to the Commando and the Featherbed. It ISN’T. Fact is, the only thing that the modern users of the name have in common with the Triumphs and Nortons of yesteryear is the badge on the tank. There IS no “heritage” that the moden bikes inherit, just sometimes avaricious and sometimes well-intentioned NEW owners of the old names.
I am not decrying modern Triumphs or Nortons, far from it; in both cases the product is excellent, though the Triumphs have a better record for longevity and success than the newly-minted Nortons can have yet. No, I’m just having a quite little mock at owners and enthusiasts who claim bloodline succession from that which has gone before, long since passed away and which left no living descendents.
So, whether this latest attempt to resurrect Norton and turn it into a racing force ever succeeds (or even HAPPENS) is not for me to say, but, suffice it to say, I’m not holding my breath waiting for either to transpire, though, of course, I wish the owners well. Anything that adds to diversity and interest on the grid is OK by me.
In case you’re wondering what I am talking about (I do, sometimes), here’s an example of one of the new road bikes planned.
Picture (obviously) from Motorcycle News.
You can read more about the new Norton road bikes in one of my previous posts.
