After nearly fifteen years of US ownership, Norton, the quintessential and most famous of British motorcycle brands returns home.

As a result of prolonged negotiations and a multi-million pound deal we can announce that the Norton motorcycle brand is, at last, back in caring British hands.

Stuart Garner a UK based businessman and owner of Norton Racing Ltd has bought back all the trademarks and development work relating to the Norton, Manx, Atlas, Commando and Dominator brands.

Norton Racing Ltd is already in development of a new rotary engined race bike and now with the ownership of the brand itself plans are being developed to introduce a new road bike for 2009.

‘This has been a challenging and exciting period for us’ Commented Garner ‘We are proud to have brought the brands back home and we now intend to focus on re-establishing Norton as a premier motorcycling brand across the World’ he added.

In the early nineties the brands were bought by Norton Motorcycles Inc in the USA with the view of developing a new Commando road bike for the US market. Nearly $10 million was spent on IP, design and development, and this development work has formed part of the new deal. The investment can now be brought to bear on the new global project for the Norton Commando 961.

Norton intend to develop a strong presence on the track and on the road during 2009 with a new 15000 sq foot factory and office complex based at Donnington Park - Norton are at the heart of motorcycle racing once again and committed to investment to make the initiative work. As well as creating a new ‘state of the art’ road bike the Norton brands will see a vigourous licensing programme through Norton Global Brands to safeguard and develop licensing of all kinds from spare parts to clothing.

Commenting on the programme Garner said ‘Our trade marks and brand have incredible strength and value, we will strongly enforce our position as the new owners of these world famous brands and ensure our new partners benefit from a robust protection programme going forward’.

‘This is the beginning of a new and exciting era in a brand that was started over 100 years ago by James Lansdowne Norton. It has sustained ups and downs over the years but still stands for performance and excellence. These will be the standards we live by from now on’ stated Garner.

DebRA fundraiser and avid Harley Davidson motorbike enthusiast Ross Jamieson and nine members of the Dunedin HOG (Harley Owners Group) are completing a 2,000 mile road trip around Britain and Ireland on Harley Davidson motorbikes to raise £20,000 for the national charity DebRA.

The charitable bikers stopped off en route at DebRA’s UK head office on Tuesday 17th June to the sound of Scottish pipes and were greeted by staff at the Crowthorne based charity.

DebRA supports families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) - a rare genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest friction, or even spontaneously. There are at least 5,000 people living with this devastating condition in the UK and 500,000 worldwide.

Some of the Harley Davidson bikers pictured with Dawn Jarvis, Head of Fundraising and Research Administration at DebRA45 year-old Ross and his fellow HOG enthusiasts from the Dunedin chapter in Edinburghset off from Edinburgh on Friday 13th June and are taking 8 days to visit every single Harley Chapter and dealership in the UK and Ireland. The group will also collect Chapter pins from the various Chapter across the country which will later be auctioned as a “Collectors Set” to add to the funds raised.

Ross’ wife Alyson, 42, and 16 year-old twin daughters, Heather and Sarah, all have Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex (EBS). Alyson said: “Fortunately we all have the simplex version of EB, which is the mildest. But shoes cause our feet to blister and any clothing that rubs against our skin will also leave blisters that need to be surgically burst and dressed.”

Those with the more severe dystrophic form of EB have skin so fragile that the lining of the mouth is affected, making it almost impossible to eat.

Ross of Linlithgow, West Lothian, said: “Heather and Sarah have tried not to let it curtail their childhood, although it has prevented them from doing certain things, like sports. The twins have to be careful breaking in new shoes and ensure seams and labels on their clothes don’t rub. But most of the time they just grin and bear it.”

Dawn Jarvis, Head of Fundraising & Research Administration at DebRA, added: ““We’re so grateful to Ross, his family and members of the Dunedin HOG for organising and taking part in this wonderful fundraising trip for DebRA. DebRA relies on the generosity of the public and fundraising initiatives like this to carry out its vital work, funding research and in providing specialist support services such as travelling nurses, clinics and equipment for families under severe pressure. In addition to hopefully raising £20,000 for DebRA, the riders are also increasing EB awareness en route which is fantastic and we wish them every success with the remaining leg of the tour.

To sponsor Ross and help him reach his £20,000 fundraising target for DebRA, please visit www.dunedinfordebra.co.ukFor more information about DebRA and to view a short video clip showing the reality of living with EB please visit www.debra.org.uk.

The joys of motorcycling - including more predictable journey times and better fuel consumption - have encouraged a recent revival in biking, especially in urban areas.

But according to Irish Advanced Motoristscommuters on two wheels have to cope with a host of hazards - not least, car drivers who for various reasons fail to see the motorcycle coming towards them.

In the jargon, too often car drivers look, but fail to see, motorcycles.

This problem is particularly acute at junctions and that is why it is the subject of an advertising campaign. "Sorry mate I didn't see you" is for too many bikers the last words they hear before they are put in the ambulance. Don’t forget to check carefully at junctions when you are emerging. An older slogan had the same affect: "Think once, think twice ... think bike".

Apart from giving bikers a "second glance", there are other things that drivers can do to ease the passage of motorcycles, particularly in heavy congestion, that in turn will mean a safer journey for everybody.

If you are stuck in dense traffic, keep checking your mirrors for bikes. These days they nearly all have their headlight on to make them easier to see. If the biker is trying to "filter" - make his way through the traffic by riding slowly between stationary vehicles, or riding on the white line in the middle of the road - make a point of creating space for them if you can do so in safety.

By pulling over slightly, to one side or the other, you can make the difference between letting the biker past, or adding to the congestion. Remember to check all your mirrors first: you don't want to compromise the bicycle making its way along the nearside in order to allow passage to a biker.

Never be tempted to vent your frustration with the traffic by getting in the way of a motorcycle on purpose. You won't go any faster and you may just contribute to a collision which of course will add to congestion rather than alleviate it.

If you are the biker – don’t be aggressive, the car driver you upset today won’t be inclined to help tomorrow.

And all this applies for pedal cyclists as well – both from car and cyclists point of view.

Two armed robbers who targeted a Sydney bar that was hosting a bikers' meeting must have "failed robber school", said the club's chairman.

The men stormed the bar brandishing machetes and wearing balaclavas - unaware that 50 bikers were holding a meeting in an adjoining room. Alerted to the robbery, some of the bikers chased the men as they fled.

One was caught after trying to escape through a back door. He was later treated in hospital for minor injuries. The other man ran off but was arrested by police in a street nearby.

Southern Cross Cruiser Club chairman "Jester" told local media that the robbers had "picked the wrong night". The would-be bandits had entered the bar and ordered patrons to lie on the floor while they emptied the till.

"I can't believe these guys were stupid enough to come into a club with 50 bikers having a bike meeting" - Jester

But someone managed to run into an adjoining room where the bikers were holding their monthly meeting.

"We were out there minding our own business and then these guys came to the bar here in the pokey (slot machine) area," Jester told the Sydney Morning Herald. "One of the guys took off... straight through a glass window, he didn't even bother pushing the button, he just ran straight through it."

Jester said the police were delighted when they arrived on the scene.

"They were really impressed that we caught these guys, because normally they get here and it's all over and done. But we caught the guys, still with their weapons, still in his balaclava and everything else.

"It's a comedy of errors, I can't believe these guys were stupid enough to come into a club with 50 bikers having a bike meeting - just crazy."