Full Chat podcast: Superbike legend Carl Fogarty reveals who his biggest rival was
Four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty joins hosts David Prutton and Iwan Thomas on motorcycling podcast Full Chat to discuss his career..
The 60-year-old, a long-time brand ambassador of Bikesure, is best known for being one of the most successful World Superbike Championship racers of all-time. He raced alongside some of the biggest names in the sport during its heyday in the 1990s, facing opposition such as James Whitham on his way to global notoriety.
Foggy spoke to the boys live from the Wray Bike Night, in his native Lancashire, and revealed all about his life both on and off the track.
Foggy can’t believe he was fearless when racing in the Isle of Man TT
During the episode, Fogarty explained how he always thought his biggest rival was himself and touched on how he was naive when racing at the Isle of Man TT, in what is regarded as one of the most dangerous road racing events in the world.
When asked by Thomas who his biggest threat to winning a race was: “There wasn’t really anyone to be honest. It was me,” he declared.
“My biggest competition was always with me. If I did what I knew I could do, the competition was with myself. I had to do everything on Friday and Saturday, do all my homework, do all the right testing, try and find the right rear tyre. And if I did all these things right, Sunday would be easy. I would win the race. I wouldn’t have any competition.
“I never really had any rivals. My biggest rival was within myself, the battle with myself all the time. ‘Can I do this? No, you can’t, yes I can, I’ll show you’. I was battling with myself and my insecurities.”
Thomas was also keen to find out the former world champion’s thoughts on competing in dangerous races such as the IoM TT.
“When I did the TT I had 100 percent trust in my team and my mechanics. I raced for Honda at the TT, and it never entered my head that anything would go wrong. Never at all,” he replied.
“I mean I look back now and think I’m surprised I did what I did there and I attacked it like I never had any fear. I didn’t even see the TT as dangerous. I was just that young and that sort of ‘brave’ and stupid or whatever you want to call it. Fearless, I guess. I wanted to win the TT so much.”
The Blackburn hero spoke about life after retirement, including winning reality TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! In 2014.
Plenty more episodes of Full Chat to enjoy
Series four’s engine is just being turned on, but we’ve got a host of episodes for you to listen to if you’ve missed the previous three series of our motorcycling podcast.
You can listen to Full Chat on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or various other platforms if you want to see what all the fuss is about.
