In 80-90ss a Norton company took part in a superbike racing, representing a rotary-powered motorcycle with a significant noise. The motorcycle was practically an irrepressible beast. Rotory engines have never being widely used, but its noise fascinates.

Mazda 787B is probably a standard. A Japanese manufacturer believed in rotory engines more than others, improving it in different racings such as 24 Hours of Le-Mans, where everyone was impressed by Mazda’s team by using a bolide with the rotory engine.

Not everyone can know the fact that the rotory engine was invented by Felix Wankel in cooperation with NSU. Such engines had sometimes being installed into motorcycles. For example, in 1960s a German manufacturer DKW tried the rotory engine on a prototype DKW W-2000, as well as Suzuki had produced Suzuki RE5 almost at the same time.

An English manufacturer Norton was really successful in using of rotory engines. Some promising experiments (Interpol II and Classic) had led to decision of making a true motorcycle. In 1987 the British presented a prototype RC588, which was advanced to RCW588, and, finally, NRS588.

Credit by:Wiz Norton Racing