Jo’s Diary: Norton Commanded

In my humble opinion, any person that has the predisposition to run across a track to jump on a classic motorcycle and race wheel-to-wheel, knee down, at the Goodwood Revival is a lunatic. I am convinced that those amongst us that decide to do so are of a different breed, perhaps genetically modified, or maybe just not human at all. I cannot fathom that these people go about their lives, holding normal jobs and washing dishes like the rest of us plebs.

In fact, I think much the same of anyone doing any type of motorbike racing. MotoGP riders are the closest we have to gladiators and don’t even get me started on anyone with enough loose screws to set foot on the grid of the Isle of Man TT. The fastest lap recorded here was measured at an average of 136.358mph by Peter Hickman on a BMW M1000RR in 2023 during a Superstock Race. This is over 37.73 miles. On a street circuit, with lamp posts and sewer lids, and Gladys’s little Pomeranian in danger of escaping from her garden. My reptilian brain gives me cold sweats when I get a strongly worded email. No way do Peter and I belong to the same species.

Yet, I have the utmost respect for anyone who does. I won’t go as far to say I find this predisposition aspirational, because I’m aware enough to know that my self-preservation instinct and lack of skills would not allow me to go so far, but watching passionate people exercise their free will by throwing motorcycles around a track is something I find utterly fascinating. The Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy is one of my highlights of any Goodwood Revival and I have often wondered how it would feel to ride one of Matchless G50s, MV Agustas or Norton 30Ms you see on the grid. Now I have to wonder no more.