Norton announced yesterday they intend to return to the Isle of Man TT Races in 2012 with a new V4 1000cc prototype machine. The famous British manufacturer were last at the TT in 2009 when an ill-fated attempt by Michael Dunlop to qualify the then 588cc machine (based on the dominant bikes from the 1990s) for the Senior saw them struggle to complete a lap but Norton owner/boss Stuart Garner is confident their return will be a lot more successful.

"We need to race at the TT. We came here in 2009 when we weren't ready, blowing all the rotary engines we had. Since then we’ve been developing a new bike and we’ll be back with a factory-supported effort for 2012 to compete in the Senior," said Garner, on Manx Radio TT.

"We will have a V4, one-litre (engine) and have been working with chassis manufacturer FTR to develop a proper racing bike. It’s going to be a prototype machine so we'll only race in the Senior TT. Norton and the TT go hand in hand and the TT suits the Norton brand."