Norton RCW588

The Norton RCW588 is a works racing motorcycle with a twin-rotor Wankel engine produced for the 1989 to 1994 racing seasons.

Initially sponsored by John Player & Sons, the Norton Rotary achieved significant racing success with riders Steve Spray, Trevor Nation, Robert Dunlop and Ron Haslam, followed by a win at the 1992 Senior TT race by Steve Hislop, and Ian Simpson winning the 1994 British Superbike Championship. The unique Wankel engine configuration measured at a capacity of 588 cc was accepted by the in 1990, allowing the Norton to enter the 500 Grand Prix premier racing class.

Tracing its origins to the motor from the Norton Classic devised and developed by David Garside in the 1970s, the racing engine was nevertheless the creation of Brian Crighton, who joined the Norton factory at Shenstone, Staffordshire in 1984 from a background in electronic engineering to oversee the service department's maintenance of the Norton Commander for the Police Force, and was responsible for establishing Norton's return to racing.

After recognising the engine was capable of producing much more power, Crighton firstly received no backing from Norton management, instead developing the engine in his own time, until sanctioned by the factory in late 1987 with the prototype race bike debuted by Malcolm Heath at Darley Moor. The team won the British Formula One Championship with rider Steve Spray in 1989.

Crighton left Norton in September 1990, following the appointment of Barry Symmons (previously chief of the Honda Britain motorcycle racing squad) as Race Team Manager in early 1990, with Crighton retained for consultancy work. Crighton subsequently developed a shadow-project which he named Roton, again with Spray, which competed in the Australian GP held at Eastern Creek circuit, placing 15th with one World Championship point.

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