Fogarty forced to abandon WSB plans

[Bob]

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."

[Romeo]

WTF man, I was really looking forward to the '08 SBK because of him. Totally Gutted!

[Babelfish]

Arse (and since that was too short a word for KB)...arse arse arse

[Pwalo]

Well that's not really a surprise.

[slowpoke]

I would have loved to see a well backed MV team involved but I can't say I'm sorry to see Fogarty out of the paddock. I wish he could control his gob as well as he controlled a bike.

[Bob]

WTF man, I was really looking forward to the '08 SBK because of him. Totally Gutted!

You do realise that he would not have been riding the bike, don't you?

He would have been team manager. Fogarty cannot take the strain of WSB, following the accident that ended his career, when the rider in front pretty much stopped in his tracks (I thought he hit the kill switch, but no doubt someone can correct me here) and Fogarty went into the back of him.

The resultant injuried to his shoulder meant he had to retire from riding.

Moot point anyway, as the project is over and done. I wonder how much of an effect the ultimately doomed Petronas project had on the team's ability to attract sponsors?

[Romeo]

You do realise that he would not have been riding the bike, don't you?

Oh really, I didn't know that. Not so dissapointed now. Please excuse the ignorance, he was sort of before my time and I only know of him from the 10 year old UK motorcycle magazines I found in my old mans cupboards.