Foggy and Corser reunited in 2002.

Australia's Troy Corser has agreed to ride for the Foggy Petronas team this year, after lengthy discussions with team boss Carl Fogarty. However the Motor Cylce News has reported that the thirty-year-old former World Superbike champion is yet to sign for the team to partner English rider James Haydon.

"I've spoken to Carl a lot over the past few weeks and I came to England to see the Petronas bike. I was very impressed by what I saw," Corser told MCN. "I'm sorting out the small legal issues that are always part of contract negotiations. I don't see anything major in this but it has to be done," he added.

Fogarty admitted that discussions had taken place, but was cautious not to confirm anything prematurely. "I have spoken to Troy, but there is nothing definite to say about that until a contract is signed for sure."

It was believed that Fogarty and Corser were not great friends when they were team-mates at Ducati in 1998 and 1999, the Englishman's championship winning seasons; so Fogarty's decision to approach Corser was unexpected. He denied all speculation of their relationship being less than close: "I've never got on better with a team-mate," claimed Fogarty.

Corser's first full season in World Superbikes was in 1995, where he finished second in the standings, behind Fogarty. He won the title the following year on a Ducati. In 1997 a switch to Yamaha saw him compete in less than half the races due to contractual problems. He returned to Ducati for 1998 and 1999, finishing third in the championship both years.

He was third again in 2000, this time for Aprilia, and only managed fourth last season, despite winning the opening races in Valencia.

Corser had hoped to ride for Aprilia again in 2002, either in Superbikes or on the Italian team's new four-stroke Grand Prix machine. But when Noriyuki Haga and Regis Laconis got those rides he was left without a deal for the coming season.

The team announced its creation and ambitions to race in the World Superbike series at the end of November last year. It is backed by the Malaysian national oil company Petronas and powered by Swiss engine producer Sauber. The plan is for the bikes to compete in their debut race at Leguna Seca in the US on the 14th July, which is the ninth round of the World Superbike Championship.

"We have got so much work to do now to get the bike and team set up, but getting riders signed is also one of the most important aspects," said the 36-year-old Fogarty.