Foggy to get back on his bike

Fogarty and his wife Michaela at the Monaco Grand Prix

Massive crowds are expected to turn out at Brands Hatch this weekend to witness British hero Carl Fogarty make his first appearance on a bike since suffering a career-threatening injury.

Foggy is still contemplating whether he will return to competition when fit but the crowd's darling refuses to disappoint his army of fans.

Last year 120,000 turned out to see the reigning world champion at Brands Hatch and he remains deeply grateful for the support he has received during his career.

"It has been incredible and over the years it has just grown and grown," he told the BBC's Breakfast News.

Fogarty was injured while racing in Australia

"I don't know if the crowd will be down a bit this year but I am going to be making a bit of a comeback - getting back on a bike for the first time since the accident to do a few laps in between the two races.

"It's to say thankyou to the crowd for all their support."

Fogarty suffered a broken arm when he was involved in a horror crash during a race in Australia in April.

He explained: "The shoulder is coming on good at the moment. It's a bit slow, but they said right from the beginning that the injury was very bad.

"I saw the specialist in Oxford on Thursday and he is happy with everything. He is pretty confident that if I am going to back racing or testing it will be round about November or December time.

I've got a lot of thinking to do over the next two months maximum really as to whether I'm going to race again

  Carl Fogarty

"It is still not definite whether I am going to race next year or not. I've got a lot of thinking to do over the next two months maximum really as to whether I'm going to race again.

"I knew right from the start that this was something which would take six to eight months to get right.

When asked if he may give up racing altogether he said: "I've got a lot of thinking to do but it is possible."

Despite the controversy surrounding the publication and subsequent upset caused by Ryder Cup vice-captain Mark James' autobiography, Fogarty said he believed it was alright for sports personalities to publish their books while still involved in competition.

He added: "I think it very much depends on the individual really and it's up to you whether you do it or not.

"Usually when you do an autobiography it is at the back end of your career, more often than not when you have retired.

"When I did this I hadn't planned to retire, maybe with the injury I will."