Foggy Petronas will not renew Haydon contract

Foggy Petronas, the World Superbike team, has confirmed they will not extend James Haydon's contract into next season.

The 28-year-old British rider 's contract expires at the end of the season at Magny-Cours in mid-October and the Burton-based team have decided against taking up the option of retaining him for a second term, although the Australian Troy Corser will continue to ride the developmental FP1 machine in 2004.

Haydon missed out on the chance of racing last season when Foggy Petronas failed to meet the deadline for production of a road-going versions of the race bike. His 2003 series has been blighted by injuries, the most serious being a prolapsed disc in the neck . The problem ruled Haydon out of the championship's British round at Silverstone as well as the San Marino races.

Haydon, who lies 25th in the championship standings with Corser 12th, said: "It's been a difficult two seasons. To sit out and be a spectator in 2002 was probably the hardest job I've ever had to do.

"Then to attempt to find a set-up on the new bike on a race-by-race basis rather than through testing has not been ideal, but the Brands Hatch round helped a lot."