Norton is British again!

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TC · #1 Post by TC » Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:38 pm

After nearly fifteen years of US ownership, Norton, the quintessential and most famous of British motorcycle brands returns home.

As a result of prolonged negotiations and a multi-million pound deal we can announce that the Norton motorcycle brand is, at last, back in caring British hands.

Stuart Garner a UK based businessman and owner of Norton Racing Ltd has bought back all the trademarks and development work relating to the Norton, Manx, Atlas, Commando and Dominator brands.

Norton Racing Ltd is already in development of a new rotary engined race bike and now with the ownership of the brand itself plans are being developed to introduce a new road bike for 2009.

‘This has been a challenging and exciting period for us’ Commented Garner ‘We are proud to have brought the brands back home and we now intend to focus on re-establishing Norton as a premier motorcycling brand across the World’ he added.

In the early nineties the brands were bought by Norton Motorcycles Inc in the USA with the view of developing a new Commando road bike for the US market. Nearly $10 million was spent on IP, design and development, and this development work has formed part of the new deal. The investment can now be brought to bear on the new global project for the Norton Commando 961.

Norton intend to develop a strong presence on the track and on the road during 2009 with a new 15000 sq foot factory and office complex based at Donnington Park - Norton are at the heart of motorcycle racing once again and committed to investment to make the initiative work.

As well as creating a new ‘state of the art’ road bike the Norton brands will see a vigourous licensing programme through Norton Global Brands to safeguard and develop licensing of all kinds from spare parts to clothing.

Commenting on the programme Garner said ‘Our trade marks and brand have incredible strength and value, we will strongly enforce our position as the new owners of these world famous brands and ensure our new partners benefit from a robust protection programme going forward’.

‘This is the beginning of a new and exciting era in a brand that was started over 100 years ago by James Lansdowne Norton. It has sustained ups and downs over the years but still stands for performance and excellence. These will be the standards we live by from now on’ stated Garner.

snapdragon · #2 Post by **snapdragon** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:08 pm

christmas list started

fastasfcuk · #3 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:19 pm

alleluya

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:43 am

Is all of it British now?

I seem to remember that there was American ownership of some rights and German ownership of others - and a bit of a dispute over who could use the name.

Anyway, sounds as though things are moving in the right direction.

fastasfcuk · #5 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 3:32 pm

great result for richards and triumph in there first season in super sports.

lazarus · #6 Post by **lazarus** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:55 pm

can but hope. who is stuart garner? does he have the sort of dosh needed bearing in mind how much it cost to get Tiumph going again

Samray · #7 Post by **Samray** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:07 pm

Mr Garner already runs a number of companies, including pyrotechnics firm, Fireworks International.
He became involved in motorbikes when he became a partner in Spondon Engineering, a bike engineering specialist in Nottingham Road.
Mr Garner joined forces with long-time friend Stuart Tiller, who was already joint owner of the engineering firm.
He became interested in buying Norton after seeing Mr Tiller develop his own prototype Norton bike.
Mr Tiller, a director of Norton Racing Ltd, who will be responsible for producing the bikes, said: "Stuart saw potential in the bike and started looking into the possibility of bringing Norton back to the UK. Amazingly, he went to America and came back with all the rights.
"I'm incredibly proud that we have brought it back. Norton holds a special place in the heart of anyone who likes motorbikes."
Mr Garner said that during its first year, production numbers would be in hundreds rather than thousands.
As well as producing racing bikes, the company will also make a new road bike – the Norton Commando 961.

BikerGran · #8 Post by **BikerGran** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:45 pm

Hope the current economic situation doesn't scupper their chances of making a success of it though.

lazarus · #9 Post by **lazarus** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:38 pm

Doesnt sound to me as if this guy is coming to the table with the spare tens of millions that it takes to get something going. Dreer had access to reasonable cash and he failed. There have been other revivals before his which failed for the same reason.

I hope I'm wrong. I really do. But I would be betting against.