Fogarty is back on the bike (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fogarty is back on the bike

8:48am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Motor sport

BLACKBURN’S Superbike legend Carl Fogarty will return to the North West 200 event this year after an absence of 19 years.

The 46-year-old, who won the Superbike World Championship on four occasions before retiring from racing in 2000, claimed a double victory on his last appearance in the Northern Irish event back in 1993.

And Fogarty has now agreed to perform demonstration laps on a Ducati at this year’s meeting, taking place on May 19 on an 8.9-mile route between the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine..

“It’s been almost 20 years since I was at the North West 200,” he said.

“I’ve not been back since I last raced there in 1993 when I did the double.

“I’ve talked about going back a lot of times but most years I’ve had something else on and I’ve not been able to make it for whatever reason.

“It’s great to be a part of it all again and hopefully we’ll see some good racing.

“Then I’ll do a lap by myself, if I can remember which way it goes! I can’t wait and it can’t come quick enough for me now.”

Fogarty also set a new lap record during his double triumph in 1993, having been edged out by Steve Hislop a year earlier.