CARL Fogarty’s mini European tour continues when he makes his long-awaited return to the North West 200 in Northern Ireland at the weekend.

The 46-year-old four-time former world superbike champion will end an absence of 19 years at the event when he performs demonstration laps on a Ducati at this year’s meeting.

Fogarty was in Assen at the weekend for the Ducati Club Netherlands races after previously travelling to Monza for the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Superbike World Championship.