Dec Front Cover Copyrev Copy.Indd

2 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS DECEMBER 3, 2008 DECEMBER 3, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 3 www.motorcyclenews.com Ducati Streetfighter sales stampede! NEC SHOW 2008 Michael Dunlop will follow in his father Robert’s footsteps when he rides the Norton NRV558 on the Isle of Man next year Norton and Dunlop’s TT return TWO of the biggest names 1950s. The 588cc Norton in TT history will come race bike has been developed NORTON’S TT HISTROY together next year when over the last year by Brian Michael Dunlop rides the Crighton and the Spondon NORTON has a glowing TT Norton ran a new frame and Norton NRV558 on the Isle engineering team. We are history. In the first year of dominated the TT with Geoff of Man. confident 2009 will prove to the race in 1907 Rem Fowler Duke and Artie Bell. The son of the late Robert be a significant milestone in won the twin-cylinder event The success continued Dunlop and nephew of the the history of this famous using a Peugeot-engined through to the John Player legendary Joey will pilot the UK motorcycle brand.” Norton. Norton in the ’70s and ’80s Rotary Norton round the Michael Dunlop will fol- Norton’s first overhead and culminated in Steve 37.73-mile circuit in the low in his father’s footsteps valve machine, the Model Hislop’s Senior TT win in Senior race. by riding for the British 18, won the Senior in 1924 1992, beating Carl Fogarty Norton has been away manufacturer. with Alec Bennett. In 1950 on a factory Loctite Yamaha. from the TT for 16 years “This is a fantastic oppor- since Steve Hislop’s historic tunity to make history with victory in the 1992 Senior. Norton’s return to one of the And the return for 2009 will world’s most famous races – be part of Norton’s resur- a real highlight of the racing gence into the motorcycle calendar,” said Michael. “It world thanks to bike enthu- means a lot to me. My father siast and owner of Norton finished third on his JPS Racing, Stuart Garner. Norton when he competed He said: “This is the first in 1990.” time in many years that an Martyn Quayle, the Isle of official Norton team has Man’s Minister for Tourism raced at the TT. and Leisure, added: “Having “We have a fantastic racing Norton back in the TT is pedigree with the brand sensational news. Nortons established over 100 years were a crowd pleaser and we ago and our aim is to emu- have every confidence this late the success Norton race will be the first of many suc- bikes achieved, particularly, cessful races for the Norton Robert Dunlop on way to victory in 1991 North West 200 in the 1930s, 1940s and team.” The Streetfighter maintains the Ducati style with a beautiful single-sided swing arm YOUR VIEWS ON THE STREETFIGHTER ...and another big name goes back ITALIAN tuners NCR will starts testing in February begin track testing the because we have a lot of work Dean Smith, Triumph Zoe Patten from Hardwick, Andy Linge, from Bath, is incredible Mike Hailwood to do to make sure the bike is Speed Triple owner from Cambridgeshire, has just looking to buy a Triumph replica race bike very soon as ready for the TT. We are East Croydon. passed her test and is looking Speed Triple. the firm prepares for an working with a number of “It’s good that they are to buy a Street Triple or “In the flesh it’s not quite assault on the Isle of Man riders at the moment but at listening to customers and Suzuki Gladius. as good as on the cover of TT’s Senior race. this stage we have not made they have decided to build “It will appeal to men and MCN. Maybe it’s better The Hailwood tribute a decision about who will it. But it doesn’t look as women. It appears to have a proportioned in black than machine made its UK debut race the bike at the TT.” good as it did in the first comfy riding position unlike it is in red. The only things I at the NEC show last week NCR has gone to extraor- picture of it in MCN. It’s Ducati sports bikes. It looks would change are the fluid with a huge level of interest dinary lengths to cut weight nice though. It looks to mean and aggressive but I reservoirs and the mirrors in the £84,000 machine from the bike to achieve a have a comfortable think it would be a good all- because they look a bit which is one of just 12 being stunning 136kg in total. The chassis. I might well be rounder and a bike you could Mickey Mouse but it’s still made. 1120cc big-bore Ducati air- tempted to buy one.” use every day.” awesome.” NCR’s Michele Poggipo- cooled V-twin will produce Titanium frame on the Hailwood replica weights just 5kg lini told MCN: “The bike 130bhp..

Load more