IT is sad that the career of four-times World Superbike champion, East Lancashire's Carl Fogarty is brought to a halt by injury.

His retirement will disappoint his hundreds of thousands of fans as the dream of a fifth title tilt is blown away.

But though he may have his knockers and detractors, Foggy's reputation as an all-time great race ace cannot be surpassed. Nor can what his bravery and skill have done to put his home town on the map.

He is known world-wide as Blackburn's Carl Fogarty -- and of him and that we can be truly proud.