Norton missed a trick with Surtees

Dear CR, It has been well documented that Norton’s decision to slow down and stop international, and seriously supported, racing at the end of the 1955 season was a mistake born of a combination of lack of foresight and investment in key areas, but what does anyone else think that Mr Surtees would have achieved had he stayed on at Norton instead of shifting to MV? I have long wondered where his career would have turned and, in turn, what that may have meant for the British motorcycle industry at the time if he had managed to get Norton to listen to him and make a motorcycle that could compete and beat the Italians. I believe that he could have gone on to world crowns on a Norton. Does anyone else share this view? John Paterson

John, it’s one of those most fascinating of ‘what if’ questions about racing that we mull over many times in the CR office. At the moment we’re swinging towards the ‘MV was the perfect route at the perfect time’ conclusion but that is likely to change several times before the week is out! We would like to find out what other people think. The Norton ‘what if’ aspect of the story is fascinating. Tony