Norton Moto GP Team in 2012.. ?

[Zax]

From MCN...


Norton, news of whose intended entry to MotoGP in 2012 will have motorcyclists dropping their bacon sarnies in equal incredulity and excitement. ?

A couple of years ago we’d have said no. But in that time Norton boss Stuart Garner has lived up to every word he’s uttered. Could Norton really make it to MotoGP? You’ll forgive us if we dare to dream...

[Coddy]

Would think trying to get it into BSB would be better, or more like realistic.
Always the problem with the Rotary engines regarding how the cc of the engine is calculated.

I read somewhere else, but can't find it, that they have got together some of the original engineers, and have got one running with modern fuel injection systems, moving air funnels (like Yamaha's YCC system) and traction control.
The bike now also weighs the same as a 250, but with abot 180hp i hear.

Something to wet the appetite.

[Dickie]

I've just remortgaged my house and put it all on this happening.

[robertjt]

Something to wet the appetite.

Watched it, but got distracted by videos of paddock girls.

[steve]

im surprised they are bothering to be honest , they must have spent a fortune trying to get thier bike to qualify for the senior race at last years TT , Michael Dunlop didnt even get one complete lap done in testing , if memory serves me correctly the bike only managed 2 miles on its most successful attempt at a TT lap

[baldy]

"Nicked from other site"

German magazine Speedweek is reporting that Norton will be back in GP racing for the 2012 season with a two-man team. Speedweek’s highly respected Austrian journalist Gunther Wiesinger has received word that Norton has requested two spots on the 2012 MotoGP grid, and has signed a request to join the series when it returns to the 1000cc format. It’s unclear at this time if Norton will be entering as a claiming rule team (CRT), or be listed as a factory prototype, which could have a dramatic affect on the team’s success in the series.

If listed as a CRT, Norton will have the benefit of three more liters of fuel and three more engines during the 2012 season, whereas if the team is listed as a factory prototype, they won’t have these added benefits, and will have to compete with Honda, Yamaha, etc on an even keel. There is a possibility however that with how the rules are written that Norton could enter the 2012 season as a CRT, and then get moved up to factory prototype status if the team finds racing success halfway through the series.

With MotoGP’s 81mm maximum bore restriction, it would seem that Norton would be barred from enter a rotary-styled motor in MotoGP. Norton has been developing the Norton NRV700 for the past year, which is based off the company’s NRV500 that participated at Bonneville last year with it’s twin Wankel rotary. The British company seemed set on releasing some sort of production rotary motorcycle to the public, but with this development, it could be a sign that we’ll see a traditional piston-engined sportbike come into production from Norton.

[Gazza]

MotoGP is woefully short of competition and I'm glad the new rule changes will encourage more teams to enter in 2012.

[missile]

Steve Hislop did rather well with a very small budget on the Norton at the TT

[Coddy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine

[Gazza]

With MotoGP’s 81mm maximum bore restriction, it would seem that Norton would be barred from enter a rotary-styled motor in MotoGP. Norton has been developing the Norton NRV700 for the past year, which is based off the company’s NRV500 that participated at Bonneville last year with it’s twin Wankel rotary. The British company seemed set on releasing some sort of production rotary motorcycle to the public, but with this development, it could be a sign that we’ll see a traditional piston-engined sportbike come into production from Norton.

I think the maximum bore only relates to the 1000cc bikes which will race alongside 800cc bikes. This reults in a longer stroke and lower rpm, resulting in less horsepower and keeping the 1000cc bikes more in line with the 800s.

A wankel engine doesn't have an equivalent bore or stroke size to a 4 stroke, so I'm not sure how they would apply the rules.

[missile]

A wankel engine doesn't have an equivalent bore or stroke size to a 4 stroke, so I'm not sure how they would apply the rules.

If it was an Italian manufacturer they would find a way