The rise and rise of Foggy

Fogarty's future hangs in the balance

Four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty speaks to BBC Sport Online's Saj Chowdhury about his new book, his career, and the injury which threatens to end his future in the sport.

There are many candidates who can have a claim to the title of the best ever British sportsperson.

Olympic gold medal decathlete Daley Thompson springs to mind as do World Cup 1966 captain Bobby Moore and cricketing legend Len Hutton.

More recently world darts champion Phil "The Power" Taylor was hailed as the greatest in the last century - albeit by a commentator in that sport.

I don't think the ticket sales have been great at Brands Hatch so I thought I'd do a few laps to bring in the crowds

  Carl Fogarty

But there is somebody who himself claims to be the "best British sportsman of the past ten years" - his name is Carl Fogarty.

Blackburn's finest has won no less than four World Superbike championships and seven world titles in total, including four Isle of Man TT victories.

The 34-year-old is currently recovering from an injury sustained following an horrific crash in the Australian round of the World Superbike Championship in April this year.

First time

Fogarty, who fractured his left arm in three places, was in contemplative mood when asked about how long it would take him to get back to competitive racing.

  Foggy's career

World Superbike Champion: 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999

World TT Formula One Champion: 1988 and 1999

World Endurance Champion: 1992

Four Isle of Man TT victories

"The injury is slowly healing. The specialist said it would take a few months and I do go and see him regularly to see if I can get the all clear."

The Superbike champion added that his specialist was none too pleased when he had announced that he would be back riding his factory Ducati at Sunday's British Grand Prix - his first time on a bike since the accident.

"He wasn't happy when I told him, but it's for the fans. I don't think the ticket sales have been great at Brands Hatch so I thought I'd do a few laps to bring in the crowds."

It was evident that Fogarty's passion to don his helmet in search of a fifth title was at the forefront of his mind - this hunger for speed and success was largely instilled in him by his father at an early age.

"My dad used to ride competitively and I think I was influenced by him. It was something I was brought up on, I think it must be hereditary."

Major success

He admitted that to ride a motorbike in competitions was expensive but that he was lucky to have had good financial backing from his father.

"It was difficult. It's not like football where you have just a ball and a kit. You actually need a motorbike, spare parts and a truck to take it around."

I'm doing a lot of thinking at the moment and my return depends upon the injury. If the injury means that I can't come back then I suppose that's it

  Carl Fogarty

It was the world of TT racing that set Fogarty's pulse racing and gave him his first major success.

He became World TT Formula One Champion in 1988 and he retained the crown the following year. Further victories at the Isle Of Man event followed and "Foggy" soon became one of the best up-and-coming riders on the world scene.

"TT was big in those days. It was a big race to win and it was a stepping stone to superbikes."

He had a taste of the 500cc World Motorcycle Championship before he mounted the Ducati, now synonymous with Fogarty.

"Honda had an injured rider so I went and rode for them in four races. I did pretty well. But then I got offered to ride a factory Ducati and my mind was settled."

Modest performances on the superbikes between 1989 and 1992 also included a World Endurance Championship, riding a Kawasaki.

Confused

Fogarty finished second behind Scott Russell in 1993's competition but a total of ten wins and four double victories gave him his first World Superbike crown in 1994 - a further three followed.

Fogarty is not entirely pleased with the FIM

"To win all these world titles is fantastic and I don't really have a favourite. But if I had to choose it would be the first."

Among the success the Blackburn man did have some gripes about how the FIM (the International Motorcycling Federation) is running the sport.

"A lot of the time they change rules and introduce things without asking any of the riders, for example, the super qualifying."

He was also confused as to why the matter involving Yahama rider Noriyuki Haga and his alleged association with the banned substance ephedrine had not been resolved.

"Shame it had to happen to Haga. If he had not been suspended for a month then I think he would have been up there challenging Colin Edwards this year. It's a shame it hasn't been dealt with really."

The spotlight on Sunday will still be on "Foggy" and at the age of 34 he feels it is a case of "touch and go" as to whether he will return, highlighting his injury as the factor that will sway him one way or the other.

"I've done everything in my career and there's no better feeling. I'm doing a lot of thinking at the moment and my return depends upon the injury. If the injury means that I can't come back then I suppose that's it."