Nov 08: Motorcycling legend Carl Fogarty has belittled Neil Hodgson's achievement in winning the Superbikes world title for the first time last season. Fogarty, who runs the Foggy Petronas Racing team in World Superbikes, was reacting to claims from Hodgson that the four-time world champion avoided a move to MotoGP because he was afraid to step up in class.
Hodgson will switch to the rival series next season. "I think it's a cowardly comment," said Fogarty.
"The simple truth is that I never got a chance to ride in MotoGP.
"I would have loved to have been given that chance, because I was certainly never scared of anyone on the track.
"It's cowardly because I can't go out there and race anymore and do anything about it.
"People will know for sure that it's an absolute lie. They will realise that Neil is trying hard not to be boring.
"He has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath as me. He's won nothing yet - he was given the World Superbike title this year."
Bureau Report