Bob
1st October 2007, 02:36
Team Foggy Racing, the motorcycle racing team owned by Carl Fogarty, has been forced to abandon plans to compete in next year's World Superbike championship following an unsuccessful search for sponsorship.
TFR, based in Burton-on-Trent, England, had intended to operate as the factory team of Italian manufacturer, MV Agusta.
Carl, the four-times World Superbike champion, said: "Everyone knows that this is a difficult time for motorcycle sponsorship. However, we hoped that the combination of my team with an iconic brand such as MV Agusta would have been an attractive proposition for potential sponsors both in the UK and abroad.
"Regrettably, despite the enormous excitement generated amongst motorcycle fans, this has not proved to be the case, leading us to the conclusion that the market will not support a professionally-run outfit of our size without significant financial input from a manufacturer. So I have decided to bring this chapter of my career to an end by putting our state-of-the-art facility at Burton, our race trailer and hospitality unit up for sale.
"I would like to thank all those who supported our efforts during the Foggy Petronas Racing project and I hope that the tide turns in favour of the efforts of privately funded teams.
"On a personal front I am now focusing on a number of new opportunities, both inside and outside the motorcycle industry."
TFR, based in Burton-on-Trent, England, had intended to operate as the factory team of Italian manufacturer, MV Agusta.
Carl, the four-times World Superbike champion, said: "Everyone knows that this is a difficult time for motorcycle sponsorship. However, we hoped that the combination of my team with an iconic brand such as MV Agusta would have been an attractive proposition for potential sponsors both in the UK and abroad.
"Regrettably, despite the enormous excitement generated amongst motorcycle fans, this has not proved to be the case, leading us to the conclusion that the market will not support a professionally-run outfit of our size without significant financial input from a manufacturer. So I have decided to bring this chapter of my career to an end by putting our state-of-the-art facility at Burton, our race trailer and hospitality unit up for sale.
"I would like to thank all those who supported our efforts during the Foggy Petronas Racing project and I hope that the tide turns in favour of the efforts of privately funded teams.
"On a personal front I am now focusing on a number of new opportunities, both inside and outside the motorcycle industry."