Team Foggy is born!

Carl Fogarty has agreed a deal with Malaysian oil and gas producers Petronas to run the all-new Sauber-developed GP1 engine in next year's World Superbike series.

The deal, which Petronas claims breaks new ground in motorcycle racing, will see the petroleum giant sponsor the four-time WSBK champion to run his own team - Team Foggy Racing - in the series for the next five years, using a development of their GP1 engine, as well as funding the mass-production of a Foggy brand of road bike.

The 36-year-old British rider, forced into retirement through injury last year, is thrilled by the chance to launch a new phase of his glittering career.

"This is a once in a life-time opportunity and the biggest deal of my career," he admitted, "I am determined to repay the faith shown in me by Petronas by displaying the same commitment to winning that I showed during my riding career. I have been focused on setting up my own team since retirement, but did not dream I would be doing it as a 'new manufacturer'! So I am doubly determined to make this a success.

"My company, Team Foggy Racing Ltd, has been working on this deal for months and it is such a relief to be finally able to announce it to the world."

Fogarty raced for a Petronas-sponsored team in the Malaysian championships in 1992 and used his friendship with Malaysia-based businessman David Wong - Petronas' consultant to their world superbike project, to set up the deal.

The project represents a departure from original plans to run the GP1 in the MotoGP series, with Petronas opting to use the legendary status of Fogarty and his huge worldwide following to launch into the road bike manufacturing sector.

Paolo Flammini, president of SBK International, which runs the WSBK series, welcomed the Petronas initiative.

"Carl Fogarty is a legend of superbikes and we are extremely happy that he will continue his new life in our championship," he said, "This initiative is further proof of the appeal of the world superbike series has towards the motorcycle industry and new commerce in that industry. We are proud to have the project focused on this series."

Foggy Petronas Racing aims to start its life the series at the fifth round at Monza on 12 May, before going on to contest the rest of the campaign.