Fogarty lands own superbike team

Carl Fogarty has never been one to shirk a challenge and yesterday the former four-times World Superbike champion agreed a five-year deal to run his own racing team with Petronas. The Malaysian company is also planning to fund the mass production of a road bike baring the Foggy brand.

Foggy Petronas Racing is expected to make its WSB debut at Monza next year using an engine jointly developed by Petronas and Sauber. The collaboration is reported to be costing Petronas some $40m.

The former Ducati rider, forced into retirement through injury last year and newly separated from the Italian manufacturer, said: "This is a once in a life-time opportunity and the biggest deal of my career. I am determined to repay the faith shown in me by Petronas by displaying the same commitment to winning that I showed during my riding career. I have been focused on setting up my own team since retirement but did not dream I would be doing it as a new manufacturer."

The project, aiming to exploit the Briton's world-wide popularity, represents a departure from Petronas's plans to compete in the 500cc MotoGP series.