Carl Fogarty to star at Castle Combe celebration

Organisers of the Fowlers Pro-Bike National race meeting at Castle Combe next month have pulled off a major coup by attracting four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty to join in with celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Wiltshire circuit's first dedicated motorcycle meeting back in 1951.

As part of the celebrations there on Saturday, 3 September, in addition to a host of top-class national racing including the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge, British F2 Sidecars, the British Historic Grand Prix Championship and the Simply Saab Castle Combe Trophy, there will also be a star parade featuring a host of racing celebrities.

Joining Fogarty on the parade lap at lunchtime will be Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati British Superbike Championship pairing Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp on their 1,198cc machines, as well as leading BSB-EVO rider and former GP ace Scott Smart.

Names such as Tony Rutter, David Hailwood and others still to be announced will also feature in the parade, after which fans will get the chance to meet the riders for autographs and photos.

Fogarty set Castle Combe's first-ever 100mph motorcycle lap when he won the MCA Star Race in April, 1989. It was the circuit's first national bike meeting for 20 years, and the ultra-successful Brit averaged more than 100mph for all eight laps en route to a 3.5-second victory over Steve Chambers, with a fastest lap of 102.22 mph.

Adult entry to the event costs ?15, with accompanied children under 16 admitted free. A paddock transfer is ?2.50, with practice getting underway at 8:45am and racing from 11:20am.