Foggy makes threat to quit Superbikes
BLACKBURN'S Carl Fogarty is frantically searching for a new sponsor in a desperate attempt to keep his Foggy Racing team alive.
But the four-time World Superbike Champion has admitted that, after a disastrous five-year spell with Malaysian petroleum giants Petronas, if he is unable to find the necessary funding, he will quite happily turn his back on the sport he loves.
Foggy, 41, this week made every one of his 16-strong racers redundant as he struggles to recruit sponsorship to safeguard the future of his team.
But he said there is still great interest in Foggy Racing and revealed ambitious plans to land former World Champion, and bitter rival, Neil Hodgson.
"Manufacturers are queuing up to help us. We've been offered a factory Ducati bike, but we must find £4 million a year.
"Top riders have been calling too. Former World Champion Neil Hodgson is desperate to come back from America.
"Despite our differences, I would sign him - not to go out drinking together, but to win races."
But should the situation reach breaking point, Foggy said he would have no qualms whatsoever about quitting motor cycling for good.
He added: "If we can't find a sponsor I will be very angry, but if racing doesn't want me, then sod it, I'll just go. And once I retire I will never come back."
Foggy's association with Petronas was blighted by disappointment - the bike didn't win a single race and managed just two pole positions and two podium finishes.
And with the deal now run it's course Foggy aimed a broadside at those in charge.
He said: "It's hard to ride a bike that everyone out there knows is the worst out there and I would never have ridden it for all the money in the world.
"It was always difficult to sign riders, to convince them to race for the team. It was embarrassing.
"It annoyed me because it made me look a failure. People associated me with winning all my life and now they'll think: Oh, he's useless'.
"If I knew five years ago what I know now, I wouldn;t have agreed to this project.
"I don't even know who I dealt with at the time and couldn't tell you one name at Petronas."
7:00pm Tuesday 31st October 2006
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CommentPosted by: baal on 10:00pm Fri 3 Nov 06
Fogarty was amazing as a racer, but he was a whiny **** then, and he's still a whiny ****.
Fogarty was amazing as a racer, but he was a whiny **** then, and he's still a whiny ****.
Posted by: Mick on 8:56am Sat 4 Nov 06
He never made the jump to the ultimate class in racing just settled for second best. He was in charge so any failings are down to him, typical Fogarty always balme someone else, unless he's won then its all down to him.
He never made the jump to the ultimate class in racing just settled for second best. He was in charge so any failings are down to him, typical Fogarty always balme someone else, unless he's won then its all down to him.
Posted by: R1GURU on 11:28am Sat 4 Nov 06
Forgot the names of the people at PATRONAS!!Look on the cheque for £5million + you ungratefull pig.
Forgot the names of the people at PATRONAS!!Look on the cheque for £5million + you ungratefull pig.
Posted by: Graham on 3:35pm Sat 4 Nov 06
if he hsd made an effort to get to know the people at Petronas maybe the last five years could have walked down a different path !
if he hsd made an effort to get to know the people at Petronas maybe the last five years could have walked down a different path !
Posted by: Stuart on 3:21pm Wed 8 Nov 06
An idiot on so many levels.
[italic]"If we can't find a sponsor I will be very angry, but if racing doesn't want me, then sod it, I'll just go. And once I retire I will never come back."[/italic]
If only I could believe that.
An idiot on so many levels.
"If we can't find a sponsor I will be very angry, but if racing doesn't want me, then sod it, I'll just go. And once I retire I will never come back."
If only I could believe that.
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