GixerGaz
03-01-2007, 13:14
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6601&d=1167826439 http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6602&d=1167826439
Neil Hodgson's manager, Roger Burnett, has claimed that Carl Fogarty could quickly complete a deal to run the former World Superbike champion this season - if he invested his own money in the project.
Foggy Racing has struggled to find a sponsor to replace Petronas, casting serious doubt on the team's participation in the 2007 championship, while Hodgson - an AMA SBK rider for the past two seasons - is desperately searching for a WSBK seat after being overlooked by long time employer Ducati.
While the two Britons have exchanged bitter words in recent years, each appears ready to bury the hatchet for a marriage of convenience - 2003 world champion Hodgson would provide King Carl's team with the potential to win races (depending on the machinery) plus plenty of sponsor-friendly publicity, while Foggy now represents Hodgson's best chance of racing for a top level team.
However, nothing will happen unless money is found and, with time fast running out before the new season starts in Qatar on February 24, Burnett believes that four-times world champion Foggy funding the project out of his own pocket is one of the last remaining options - but doubts it will happen.
"The only real problem is just the money issues," Burnett told people.co.uk. "We all know that Carl Fogarty is able to fund the project himself should he wish to. But having said that he's not very good at getting his hand in his pocket so I can't see that happening.
"The money that Fogarty has earned out of his Petronas contract for the last four years could be re-invested. One year of that money could be enough for this thing to happen. But I can't see that he's up for it."
While putting pressure on Fogarty to find the funds, Burnett didn't state whether Hodgson is also prepared to help bankroll the project - for example by riding for a wage well below his worth, as Carlos Checa is believed to have done to save his MotoGP career during the 2006 season - but did warn that Hodgson is facing the very real prospect of being left on the sidelines.
"Neil's situation is very, very frustrating," he admitted. "Personally, I think the chance of a ride with a new Fogarty team is looking less and less likely as time drags on.
"The only real option for Neil is to wait and see if anyone is either not performing in the series or gets injured."
Meanwhile, Hodgson's website reports that the 16-times WSBK race winner now has less than a week to reach a final decision for the 2007 season. It also reveals that the potential Foggy project could involve MV Agusta machinery and that a ride for the Klaffi team, which won a race with Alex Barros and Honda in 2006 but recently announced a year out due to a lack of sponsorship, has 'not yet been ruled out'.
"I have been riding my nuts off in America for the last two years and it seems that everybody has just forgotten about me. I just need the right opportunity because I know that I still have a world championship in me," said Neil of his current situation.
Neil Hodgson's manager, Roger Burnett, has claimed that Carl Fogarty could quickly complete a deal to run the former World Superbike champion this season - if he invested his own money in the project.
Foggy Racing has struggled to find a sponsor to replace Petronas, casting serious doubt on the team's participation in the 2007 championship, while Hodgson - an AMA SBK rider for the past two seasons - is desperately searching for a WSBK seat after being overlooked by long time employer Ducati.
While the two Britons have exchanged bitter words in recent years, each appears ready to bury the hatchet for a marriage of convenience - 2003 world champion Hodgson would provide King Carl's team with the potential to win races (depending on the machinery) plus plenty of sponsor-friendly publicity, while Foggy now represents Hodgson's best chance of racing for a top level team.
However, nothing will happen unless money is found and, with time fast running out before the new season starts in Qatar on February 24, Burnett believes that four-times world champion Foggy funding the project out of his own pocket is one of the last remaining options - but doubts it will happen.
"The only real problem is just the money issues," Burnett told people.co.uk. "We all know that Carl Fogarty is able to fund the project himself should he wish to. But having said that he's not very good at getting his hand in his pocket so I can't see that happening.
"The money that Fogarty has earned out of his Petronas contract for the last four years could be re-invested. One year of that money could be enough for this thing to happen. But I can't see that he's up for it."
While putting pressure on Fogarty to find the funds, Burnett didn't state whether Hodgson is also prepared to help bankroll the project - for example by riding for a wage well below his worth, as Carlos Checa is believed to have done to save his MotoGP career during the 2006 season - but did warn that Hodgson is facing the very real prospect of being left on the sidelines.
"Neil's situation is very, very frustrating," he admitted. "Personally, I think the chance of a ride with a new Fogarty team is looking less and less likely as time drags on.
"The only real option for Neil is to wait and see if anyone is either not performing in the series or gets injured."
Meanwhile, Hodgson's website reports that the 16-times WSBK race winner now has less than a week to reach a final decision for the 2007 season. It also reveals that the potential Foggy project could involve MV Agusta machinery and that a ride for the Klaffi team, which won a race with Alex Barros and Honda in 2006 but recently announced a year out due to a lack of sponsorship, has 'not yet been ruled out'.
"I have been riding my nuts off in America for the last two years and it seems that everybody has just forgotten about me. I just need the right opportunity because I know that I still have a world championship in me," said Neil of his current situation.