Australia’s Josh Brookes will again represent the Norton factory in this year’s Superbike and Senior TT races.

The 2015 British Superbike Champion will compete on the SG7, derived from the V4 RR road bike.

The bike that Brookes will ride is hand-built at Norton’s Donington Hall factory and will continue its development and testing schedule prior to the TT in the very capable hands of two-time winner Steve Plater.

Brookes enjoyed a successful return to the Mountain Course in 2017 following a two-year absence, clocking up the fastest lap of the Mountain Course by a Norton machine at an average speed of 130.883mph. The lap was posted in the Senior race, when Brookes came home in sixth place, his best finish to date at the TT.

He also returned to the island in late August and secured his maiden Mountain Course win with victory in the Senior Classic TT on a 500cc Paton as well as riding a Rotary Norton to within five seconds of Steve Hislop’s best lap in 1992.

It was a good season all round for Brookes, who finished second overall in the British Superbike Championship only three points behind winner Shane Byrne, taking three wins along the way.

Brookes has enjoyed a meteoric rise at the TT since claiming the fastest newcomer title at the TT in 2013. He finished seventh in the 2014 Senior, which saw him improve his fastest lap to an impressive 129.859mph in only his second year at the event.

Speaking from his home in Australia, Brookes said: ’It was a real honour to represent Norton in 2017. After a couple of years away it took me a bit of time to get dialled in again and I really felt comfortable by the end of race week. I’m raring to go again and build on last year with the team and add to their history round the Isle of Man.’

Norton CEO Stuart Garner is thrilled at again securing one of biggest names in motorcycle racing to represent the factory.

Commenting, he said: ’There are only a handful of riders capable of competing for podiums and race wins at the TT and in Josh Brookes we have a rider with the ability and potential to rewrite the record books.

’Josh’s involvement in the team not only gives us a competitive position on the track but also means that we put into practice what we learn on the Isle of Man for our road bike.

’The most important thing for us as a team and a company is that we always move forward, always look to build on and improve what we’ve achieved. I’m more confident than ever for 2018.’