1898-1927	1928-1939	1939-1945	1946-1963	1963-1968	1968-1977		1993-1998	1998-2007
						1978-1992

In the period 1978-1987 Norton Motors exists solely as an R&D company in Shenstone, near Birmingham. When Triumph/BSA were taken over, Norton inherited the Rotary engine (Wankel) concept, which is now improved. David Garside heads a team that develops an air-cooled twin rotor engine based on the geometry of the Fichtel&Sachs stationary engine, totally changing  the cooling/intake system and by so doing increasing the horsepower and decreasing fuel consumption to an astonishing degree.

Philippe Le Roux buys the firm off Manganeze Bronce in 1987 and accelerates development by starting to enter bikes in national level road racing. Brian Crighton develops the first works racers, utilizing the exhaust ejector system that has, so far, only been used on aero engines. These early works engines have about 120bhp (Crighton claims 140). In their 2nd and 3rd season Nortons win national championships, though in fairness it must be said they are pukka racers entered against no-cost-barred modified production bikes as the Honda RC30 and Yamaha OW 01. The crowning glory is Steve Hislop's victory in the 1992 TT , against a certain Carl Foggarty.