2013 Norton TT Racer

Norton Motorcycles could be another step closer to realising a new generation sports bike, after it released a teaser photo of its 2013 Norton TT Racer.

The image shows only a zoomed-in view of the new Isle of Man TT racer's wheel, complete with large brake rotors and six-piston IS calipers, a carbon-fibre BST front wheel and Dunlop tyre, plus a hint of the carbon fibre front fenders.

But the interesting part is the Ohlins suspension, which isn't your run-of-the-mill gear. Look closely and you'll notice the high-spec Ohlins FGR forks feature a couple of cables connected to the compression and rebound damping adjustment chambers.

What this means is that Norton is experimenting with electrically adjustable suspension for its race bikes.

While this advancement in suspension tech is expected to give the iconic British motorcycle company an edge when it comes to lapping the arduous Snaefell Mountain Course at the Isle of Man from May 25 this year, by rapidly changing damping setting on the go, the Norton TT Racer also serves as a test bed for the company's upcoming production bikes.

While we may not see the high-tech suspension on Norton's current mainstay, the Commando 961, it would be natural for electronically adjustable suspension to filter down to the oft-talked about (but rarely seen) Norton sports bike.

As Norton continues to move into new export markets, recently adding Spain to its destination list, and having just moved into much larger premises - Donington Hall - the UK bike builder now has the scope to ramp up production, and potentially reveal a few more surprises in 2013.