Former MCE British Superbike Champion Josh Brookes will make his long-awaited return to the Isle of Man TT this year after signing a deal to race for the iconic Norton team alongside countryman David Johnson in a two-man squad.

The Australian - who will be back in BSB with the Anvil TAG Yamaha squad in 2017 - will run the new SG6 Aprilia RSV4-engined Superbike which is similar to the bike Johnson campaigned last year in the Superbike and Senior TT events but with some tweaks to the chassis geometry and swingarm.

The bike will also carry parts and bodywork from the new V4 SS roadbikes that were launched at Motorcycle Live, and Brookes is looking forward to writing his own piece of Norton history but is under no illusions that it is going to be a walk in the park.

“I wanted to get back to the TT and after talking to a BSB team owner who didn’t end up running this year, he suggested I talk to Stuart Garner at Norton. The interest I have with Norton is I like the history of the brand and its history at the TT. I would just be a speck on their sea but to be part of that history would be memorable, a proud thing to do,” Brookes told BSN from his Bringelly garage.

“I spoke to Stuart, we discussed a few things and we put it together from there. David Johnson did a 130mph lap on it last year, so it is clearly improving as a motorcycle and that was a big step forward in terms of progress - Davo was pretty competitive on it and there have been more improvements again.”

Brookes is not expecting to win at this year’s event but also seems unfazed by the insane laptimes that were put down by Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop in 2016.

“You expect everyone to go quicker every year, it’s natural progression. Bikes improve, tyres improve, suspension gets refined, it’s normal. The TT is a place where you put down the best lap you can and see what numbers come up for you.

You can’t force a lap because that is dangerous. You do what you are comfortable with and if it’s fastest enough to win, then you’re over the moon and if it’s fifth you have to be happy with that as that is what you were prepared to risk on the day with what you had available.

“Saying the bike is ready to win is probably not the case and if I said I was ready to win that would probably be wrong too. We have to expect to be inside the top ten and wherever we end up inside there is what comes. My first ever race at the TT was in the Superbike and I got a top ten, so let’s hope we are better than that at least, but realistically if we finish the races without a problem, and I’m in the 132mph club by the end of the fortnight then we’ll be celebrating.”

Brookes will visit the island to carry out some memory refreshment and will also test before shipping out. Whether he and the bike will race at the North West 200 as a preview will be decided nearer the time.

“I can remember where it all goes but I will go over a do a few refreshment visits to build up the preparation as best I can. Stuart has said we will do some testing as that is part of the reason he wants me to ride, he wants a British Champion’s opinion of the bike’s development.”

The SG6 is hand built at Norton’s Donington Hall factory and is currently undergoing a punishing development and testing schedule in the hands of two-times TT winner and Norton development rider, Steve Plater.

Norton boss Stuart Garner said: “There are a couple of reasons why we wanted to sign Josh Brookes. Firstly, he gives us the opportunity of a world class short circuit rider to move along the V4 road bike development, and secondly, with his TT experience and his achievement of being fastest newcomer in 2013, Josh is clearly capable of a 130mph-plus lap. Given the requirements of the team at this stage of the project this makes him a perfect rider for Norton.

Delighted that Johnson has returned to continue his journey with Norton, Garner added: “To come in last year and move the development on and do all but a 131mph lap was a huge achievement and ground-breaking for the team. There’s a huge amount of respect from everyone in the Norton team for everything he has achieved and Davo has more than earned his place back on the bike in 2017.

“With first deliveries of V4 SS bikes not expected until the second half of 2017 it’s too early in the engine’s development to race the new Norton V4 engine given the dangers and endurance involved in competitive racing at the TT.”