http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.as ... nid=104195
No one can accuse Carl Fogarty of hiding what he really thinks behind bland 'PR speak', and the four-times World Superbike champion had some cutting words for fellow Brit Neil Hodgson during a recent interview with Crash.net.
With Foggy Petronas Racing and Crash.net having recently launched a competition to win a holiday of a life-time to the Monza WSBK round, Carl called in for a chat with Crash.net Radio where he answered a variety of questions about WSBK, MotoGP and his own career as both a rider and team manager.
During the interview Foggy - the first British rider to claim the World Superbike crown - was asked how highly he rated the two other Brits that have won the title since; James Toseland (2004) and Neil Hodgson (2003):
"I rate Toseland quite well because he won a world championship last year, whereas I don't think Neil Hodgson has won a world championship yet in my opinion," replied Foggy. "2003 was the worst ever (WSBK) year and he had no-one to beat apart from his team-mate (Ruben Xaus) who was a bit young and un-experienced anyway and crashed for the first part of the season.
"I think James did a good job last year; everyone was on the same tyres and there were three or four people on the same bike as James, which is something Neil never had - he had the best tyres, nobody had a bike like his. Honda was back last year which they weren't when Neil won it. He won it its worst ever year, which is unfortunate for him as he hasn't really proven in my eyes that he is world champion yet.
"James did a good job last year; I don't think anyone could have done a better job really," continued Carl. "He was a bit inconsistent at times but I think that was because of the tyres really, a lot of people struggled with the tyres last year.
"Neil, I think, needs to go back to World Superbikes and prove to me and maybe himself (what he can do). I know a lot of other people believe the same - that he hasn't really won it yet until he has beaten the best, like in 1999 or 2000 when I was winning championships. Then, every major manufacturer were out there and we we're all on Michelins and it was very, very tough.
"(Hodgson) was very unlucky; it wasn't his fault in 2003 it just worked out that way."
So Hodgson should have returned to World Superbikes this season, instead of heading to the AMA Superbike championship?
"(Laughs) I think going over to the AMA was (Hodgson's) last option, he had nowhere to go in WSBK - Ducati didn't want him and I know that for a fact," claimed Carl. "They wanted two other riders from elsewhere but didn't get them so they ended up with the two (Toseland and Laconi) from last season. The only thing on offer to Neil from Ducati was America and he took it.
"I can't believe for one minute that he'd want to go there, I know he has to say he wants to now because he doesn't have a choice! He's got to try and bull it up that he may be the first man to win this and that (BSB, WSBK and AMA titles) but no-one really cares. It's a domestic championship in another country; no-one really cares about it.
"I would have preferred to see him back in World Superbikes because it's tough. The championship is getting stronger like I said and will be very tough in 2005 and its going to get stronger in 2006," he declared. "Like I say it was unfortunate for him, its no-ones fault he just happened to win it in 2003 when it was probably at its weakest in its entire history, and I don't think many people would argue with that."
Hodgson and Fogarty have previously clashed over Carl's reasons for staying in WSBK, rather than moving to the 500 GP (now MotoGP) world championship.
Login
FAQ
