Peter Hickman to ride iconic Norton Rotary at 2026 Classic TT

Peter Hickman will ride the iconic WizNorton Racing Norton Rotary at the 2026 Classic TT, with the 14-time Isle of Man TT winner set to campaign the team's WRS 588cc rotary in the Formula 1 race.

The announcement brings together one of the fastest riders ever to tackle the Mountain Course with one of the most famous machines in TT history. Hickman, who currently holds the outright lap record at 136.358mph, will take over riding duties from Michael Dunlop, who raced the bike at last year's Classic TT.

The WizNorton Racing team has become one of the standout attractions at the Classic TT since making its debut in 2014, keeping the distinctive Norton Rotary alive on the Mountain Course. The bike remains a fan favourite thanks to its unique engine note and the legacy created by the factory-backed Norton race bikes of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The team's most recent outing saw Dunlop record the fastest ever lap by a rotary-powered motorcycle around the Isle of Man TT course, posting an unofficial 123.505mph lap to eclipse Steve Hislop's long-standing benchmark from the 1992 Senior TT. Before Dunlop, the machine was raced by Josh Brookes in 2017 and 2018, followed by Shaun Anderson in 2023 and 2024.

For Hickman, the ride carries an extra layer of significance. His father, Dave Hickman, played a key role in the development of the original Norton Rotary project, helping transform an ex-police motorcycle into the race machine that would eventually become one of the most recognisable bikes ever to compete on the Isle of Man.

Speaking about the news, Hickman said:

"I've been lucky enough to ride some incredible bikes over the years, but this one's a bit different. The Norton Rotary is one of those bikes that every TT fan knows; it's impossible not to appreciate what it means to the history of the event. It's even more special because of my Dad's involvement with the original project.

"The guys at WizNorton have put a huge amount of work into the bike over the years and it's a privilege to be able to ride it. The Classic TT is all about celebrating these incredible machines. I'm looking forward to getting out on the Mountain Course and seeing what we can do."

That family connection means Hickman's first outing on the Norton Rotary comes almost 50 years after his father first became involved with the project.

WizNorton Racing says the motorcycle has undergone continuous development over the past 12 years, with input from Brookes, Anderson and Dunlop helping refine the current package. The team believes the latest specification is the strongest it has fielded, and will be aiming to make the most of Hickman's vast experience when the Classic TT returns next month.