Foggy pulls plug on team

Four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty has decided not to return to

racing as a team owner in 2008 after failing to find a major sponsor.

Fogarty had signed a deal with legendary Italian manufacturer MV Augusta but

has decided to pull the plug on his race team activities.

Fogarty, whose team was previously backed by Petronas, told www.eurosport.com:

"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."

MV are understood to be talking to former grand prix racer Kenny Roberts about

moving his team from MotoGP to World Superbikes.

But as news of Fogarty's decision was announced, BMW revealed they were moving

into the World Superbike championship for the 2009 season.

BMW development vice president Peter Muller said: "In 2007 BMW returned to

road racing with the sports boxer after more than 50 years.

"In 2008 we will continue our activities in the endurance category. At the

same time we will be preparing our entry into the Superbike World Championship

in 2009 with great intensity."