From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

McCoy Looks To Future in Superbikes

FPR rider Garry McCoy has turned his back on MotoGP and is instead focused on spending his remaining years in the sport in Superbikes, he declared at the recent launch of the of the Australian round of the 2005 World Supberbike calendar.

“I was asking myself at the end of last season if I would go back to MotoGP, but unless you get the interest of the really top teams, there’s no real point in going there,” exlained the 32 year old Aussie.

“FPR is a very professional outfit, which is one of the main reasons why I made the decision to sign with them.

“I’m happier racing in the World Superbike Championship as it’s a racing class more in touch with most motorcycling fans.

“It’s a lot more easy going, everybody’s looking for a rider more so than money and there’s just more of a racing atmosphere, whereas GP – it just doesn’t seem like that. MotoGP is a bigger line of everything. There’s more money….the teams need big money and they look for European riders and bring European sponsors. I don’t know – it’s just not good old racing anymore. You’ve got guys running up front on machinery that people can’t even dream of owning.”

Australia is the second most represented nation on the 2005 World Superbike grid, with six riders including FPR’s Garry McCoy and Steve Martin, behind Italy on ten.

The return of factory support by the big Japanese manufacturers after they left Superbikes in 2001 has given the series a real boost, as well as boosted the hopes for an Australian victory.

“There’s quite a few Aussies in the class and I think a lot of people underestimate the ability the Australian riders have got because we usually don’t get the good machinery. But this year there’s an Australian on a PETRONAS, a Honda, a Yamaha and a Suzuki, which almost covers all the top makes.

“Troy Corser is on the Suzuki and I think he as a former World Champion and his bike will be one of the most competitive combinations out there.

“I’ve got a bike that’s mostly equal to everyone else as well. We’ll be a little bit down on power in the first couple as races as the PETRONAS engine development team are still working on further developments, but I’m very confident of the FP1’s potential.

“I haven’t won a championship even after all those years in MotoGP, but I haven’t thought about retiring for a second. While I get good rides and I’m enjoying it I reckon I’ll just keep going.”