Norton lined up for MotoGP in 2012

[D-Rider]

Apparently Norton is planning to launch a campaign on MotoGP in 2012.

It's not clear to me whether we are talking:



Or




or whether the second will be riding for the first ....



Anyway, more details of the actual rumours here:
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rumors/ ... togp-2012/

[Samray]

http://motograndprix.motorionline.com/2 ... r-il-2012/

[HowardQ]

I'll just settle for the Manx thankyou very much.

[Kwackerz]

La Norton, casa storica per cui ha corso negli anni ’50 tra gli altri anche Geoff Duke, ha chiesto due posti in griglia per la MotoGP 2012. Il ritorno alle 1000cc di cilindrata ha infatti convinto la casa Inglese produttrice del famoso motore rotativo Wankel, a chiedere alla Dorna la possibilità di partecipare alla nuova formula del motomondiale. A riportate la notizia è il sito SpeedWeek.de che ricorda anche che attualmente la Norton produce tre modelli, ciascuno con motore bicilindrico parallelo di 961cc.

Il ritorno alle 1000 e i nuovi regolamenti che partiranno dal 2012 sembrano dare gli effetti sperati e cioè un ripopolamento della griglia di partenza.

The Norton, historic home which ran in the 50s among others, Geoff Duke, has requested two seats on the grid for MotoGP 2012. Return to 1000cc engine capacity has convinced the home of the famous English producer Wankel rotary engine, to ask the Dorna can participate in the new formula championship. At the news site reported that SpeedWeek.de Norton reminded that currently produces three models, each with a 961cc parallel twin engine.

A return to 1000 and from 2012 new regulations seem to give the desired effect and that a recovery of the grid.

[Samray]

The decision to change the rules from 2012 has seen a handful of names linked to a MotoGP move, most notably Norton, Aprilia and BMW.

[mangocrazy]

How many times have we heard this from Norton? It all follows a predictable pattern;

1) New owner takes over Norton
2) New owner takes out large loan
3) New owner releases 'new' model(s) trading heavily on Norton's heritage from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
4) New owner talks of plans to go GP racing
5) Bank forecloses on loan due to economic difficulties and puts Norton up for sale.

And so it goes. Rinse and repeat.

Call me cynical, but don't call me late for dinner...

[D-Rider]

Yeah but they've never had Graham Norton riding for them before .....

[Willopotomas]

How many times have we heard this from Norton? It all follows a predictable pattern;

1) New owner takes over Norton
2) New owner takes out large loan
3) New owner releases 'new' model(s) trading heavily on Norton's heritage from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
4) New owner talks of plans to go GP racing
5) Bank forecloses on loan due to economic difficulties and puts Norton up for sale.

And so it goes. Rinse and repeat.

Call me cynical, but don't call me late for dinner...

They're actually doing rather well.. We do work for the company that make the frames (in Coventry) and they've bought another works unit for the sole purpose of building these frames.. So they can't be doing too badly.

[mangocrazy]

And I really hope they continue to do well. When they've been doing well for about 10 years, have an overflowing worldwide sales order book and a bulletproof bank balance, perhaps that would be the time to think of venturing into MotoGP.

But not as a virtual start-up and in the middle of a recession. Not unless they have backers with bottomless pockets...

[Kwackerz]

Plenty of football teams do.. Hopefully they too have a secret sugardaddy

[Kwackerz]

And that is just so so so so so so wrong.

There's a hint of Colin Edwards there... The Texas Torgaydo

[D-Rider]

I was in the Tesco Reading Library at lunchtime and was leafing through the latest copy of the biking tabloid.

It seems the latest info is that Norton is not planning to use the rotary but a new 4-cylinder 4-stroke.
..... now that got me wondering .... do they still have the rights to the Al Melling designed Nemesis? If so, although that was a 1500cc V8, could we be seeing some of that technology coming out of their cupboard ... along the lines of half of that lump (I4 or V4) with the capacity made up to I litre ?

On the other hand, there's that Ilmor MotoGP engine just waiting for someone to pick it up too ....

Whatever, there's bound to be a road bike in the plan as well .... assuming they don't over-extend themselves and go bust again before any of this sees the light of day .....

[Kwackerz]

ESTORIL, PORTUGAL, MAY 1 - The MotoGP grid will certainly be healthier in 2012 than the current 17 after a host of teams expressed interest in joining the class as Claiming Rule Teams (CRT).

Applications from 16 teams currently not in MotoGP were submitted, with two of the teams dismissed after an early review by teams association IRTA and Dorna, the MotoGP rights holder.

That leaves 14 teams containing 21 riders, many of which are currently in Moto2 and are looking to move to the premier class. The final number is expected to be around 24, according to various race officials.

Those 14 teams will now be provided with a prospectus containing full details of the terms and conditions of participation and have until the Saturday of the French GP weekend at Le Mans, May 14, to submit comprehensive details of their plans to take part. The relevant parties will review the applications and notify the teams an acceptance, a rejection or pending status.

Teams that have been accepted will have a further three weeks, until June 3, the Friday of the the Catalunya Grand Prix weekend, to lodge a security deposit with IRTA. A final list of accepted teams will then be published.

The rules for the CRTs will be different than for the current MotoGP teams in a number of ways. The major technical differences are that they'll have 12 engines instead of six and 24 liters fuel capacity instead of 21. Other teams will be able to claim an engine with gearbox for 20,000 euros, about $29,600, or the engine without the gearbox for 15,000 euros, about $22,200.

[Kwackerz]

And that is just so so so so so so wrong.

There's a hint of Colin Edwards there... The Texas Torgaydo

Obviously just revisited this thread, i still cant comprehend who the fek, or why the fek a bloke would want to ride a bike in these leathers, how the guy even posed for the pic is beyond me.

its just so so so wrong.

[Kwackerz]

..found the answer after a bit of searching..