Image: Supplied.

Australian Josh Brookes will remain with Norton for the 2018 Isle of Man TT, re-signing with the British brand to contest the Superbike and Senior TT races.

Brookes will pilot the hand-built Norton SG7 for the second-straight year alongside his British Superbike Championship commitments with McAms Yamaha.

“It was a real honour to represent Norton last year,” Brookes commented. “After a couple of years away it took me a bit of time to get dialled in again and despite the weather disruption I really felt comfortable by the end of race week and I’m raring to go again and build on last year with the team and add to their history around the Isle of Man.”

Brookes enjoyed a successful return to the Mountain Course last year following a two-year absence from the Isle of Man, which included the fastest-ever lap around the TT course by a Norton with a 130.883mph lap on his way to sixth in the Senior TT.

“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,” said Norton CEO Stuart Garner. “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 and I’m more confident than ever that that’s what we’ll be doing again this year as we look to establish Norton at the front of the field on and off the track.”

In addition, Brookes also gained experience at the Isle of Man later in the year and secured his maiden Mountain Course win with victory in the Senior Classic TT Race riding a Paton, as well as riding a Rotary Norton to within five seconds of Steve Hislop’s fastest lap.