From two press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

FPR’s Logistical Challenge

Mobilising a World Superbike team for a long-haul race or test is no mean feat.

And Foggy PETRONAS Racing experienced this first hand during a busy Christmas break as the team prepared its freight to be shipped overseas for two back-to-back tests this month in Phillip Island, Australia followed by Sepang near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia – the home of team sponsors PETRONAS.

With hundreds of different items from plastic funnels to engines having been collated, the team packed 5,200 kilograms of equipment into 22 flight cases, which departed FPR’s Burton headquarters this morning for the twenty four hour flight to Australia.

Robin Budinger, Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s Stores and Stock Controller commented: “The volume and range of equipment and parts required for a fly-away test or race never ceases to amaze me and, it’s hard to appreciate what a logistical challenge a ‘pack-up’ is until you do it!

“As the team will not be returning to the UK in between the tests, it’s vital that they have enough equipment and parts with them to cater for every eventuality. Should the team desperately need something when testing in Europe, then at a last resort it could be flown out, but with a long haul there isn’t that luxury.”

Along with four Foggy FP1 bikes, a raft of spare parts were included to ensure the team has ample supplies for both tests, as was hundreds of litres of various lubricants for the engine, gearbox, suspension and brakes, and even dustbins for the pit garage.

The fourteen sets of spare wheel rims required a freight case all to themselves, although a box of 5,000 essential plastic tie-wraps used to tidily secure the hundreds of metres of cabling throughout the pit garage, a mere twenty cans of polish for keeping the Foggy FP1 bikes sparkling clean and even the hoover, all had their carefully allocated places in the freight!

FPR’s Aussie Troy Corser is excited to be returning to his home soil to test at the Phillip Island track, and both he and team-mate James Haydon are greatly looking forward to their first outing on the spectacular Sepang circuit in Malaysia at the end of the month.


Foggy Focus On Key Test

Carl Fogarty is hoping to the next two tests will provide a real indication of the chances of Foggy PETRONAS Racing for the 2003 World Superbike championship campaign.

His team is due to test at the Australian circuit of Phillip Island next week, followed by a three-day test in Malaysia the following week.

And the team owner recognises that the remaining track time is crucial for his two riders, James Haydon and Troy Corser.

Carl, who will not be in Phillip Island because of family commitments but who will be joining the team in Malaysia, said: “Australia is a big test for us.

“Whatever happens in the next two tests is probably going to reflect how we will kick-off at the first race of the year in Valencia on 2 March.

“We are hoping for a little more power and reliability from the engine so that we can get some race distances under our belts.

“Troy will have a good idea of what to expect as he knows the track inside out and knows what a Ducati and Aprilia would do round there. And I’ve got a good knowledge of the times to expect at Phillip Island. I think James has only been there once in the past.

“So, all things considered, we should get some good pointers before we head off to Sepang.”