Michael Dunlop's Rotary Norton NRV588 getting closer to 2009 Isle of Man TT

[EJ25RUN]

March test footage from Donington Park. (Uses Inconel in exhaust to keep from melting away)



FasterandFaster....

Norton will be racing at the Isle of Man TT in 2009, with this rotary-engined NRV588, which is actually based on the early-1990s F1



Back in October this year, Norton had been revived once more, with UK businessman Stuart Garner buying the rights to the Norton brand and setting up a new factory and office complex for Norton near Donington Park.

The company is now supposed to be working on all-new streetbike – probably to be called Commando – which will be launched in 2009. In the meanwhile, Norton have also announced they’re coming back to race at the Isle of Man next year. Robert Dunlop’s son, 20-year-old Michael Dunlop will race a Norton NRV588 rotary-engined bike at the IoM TT in 2009.

‘This is a fantastic opportunity to make history with Norton's return to one of the world's most famous races. It means a lot to me as I will be following in my father's tracks, as he finished third on his JPS Norton when he competed in 1990,’ says Michael.

Steve Hislop won the Senior TT on a rotary-engined Norton F1 back in 1992, and Norton have been absent from the Isle of Man ever since. The NRV588, which Michael will be racing, is actually an evolution of the old F1 and has been developed by Brian Crighton and the Spondon team.

[Zhu]

what's the carbon fiber tube that sits under the tail for? sorry I'm asking.

[EJ25RUN]

what's the carbon fiber tube that sits under the tail for? sorry I'm asking.

The PB pic is from early 2008 when the bike was first shown. A lot of development has come since then in trying to cool the exhaust.

The bike in the vid is a different machine vs the Nortion liveried machine. I don't know if it is a development bike or other use. Check the vid between 0:29 - 0:43 to see why they need the cooling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph-n7-naQxo



Sportrider.com...

A small electric extractor fan pirated from an R/C model aircraft sits in an underseat duct in the tailsection, helping pull cooling air from between the rotary engine's housings. The fan's variable speed is controlled by the ECU according to engine temperature

Here is where the piping is rooted to.

[Elbow]

OH...MY....HOT

[HypnoToad]

i love nortons

[EJ25RUN]

Forgot to post this. Here is an article on inconel. I have never heard of the substance before but it is incredible. It holds temps where titanium would melt and is used on fighter jet engines as well as F1 race engines.

Here is a good link on what it is.

http://www.burnsstainless.com/TechAr...l_article.html

[dazn]

Forgot to post this. Here is an article on inconel. I have never heard of the substance before but it is incredible. It holds temps where titanium would melt and is used on fighter jet engines as well as F1 race engines.

Here is a good link on what it is.

http://www.burnsstainless.com/TechAr...l_article.html

inconel is incredible stuff, bitch to weld, but definitely needed for high temp and long duration engines.

anyways, the norton is a really cool bike, very interesting chassis design.
cool to see the Dunlop family still involved with Norton. It will be hard to beat the big 4 and ducati but I hope they do well.
maybe we will see a BMW at IOM this year too.

[EJ25RUN]

inconel is incredible stuff, bitch to weld, but definitely needed for high temp and long duration engines.

anyways, the norton is a really cool bike, very interesting chassis design.
cool to see the Dunlop family still involved with Norton. It will be hard to beat the big 4 and ducati but I hope they do well.
maybe we will see a BMW at IOM this year too.

If there was ever a special family in motorcyle racing, it is definetly the Dunlops. I was saddened to hear of Robert passing last year. (May 15 is the one year since he lost his life at the Northwest) The hightlight of the weekend though and the entire Irish road racing season was Robert's son Michael beating the incredible John McGuinness in the 250cc race.