Q&A: Troy Corser - Foggy Petronas

Troy Corser will be riding for Carl Fogarty's new World Superbike team in 2002. He tells us a bit about how the team is fitting together and what he gets up to in his spare time.

Q:
Are you happy with your deal with Carl Fogarty?

Troy Corser:
I'm very happy to have signed a deal with my former team mate Carl Fogarty to ride the Foggy Petronas bike in the World Superbike Championship. It is a very exciting project and there is really good backing to it, so I'm sure the bike will be competitive within a year or so.

I'm particularly excited because it's a three-year deal, so I haven't got to worry what's going to happen next year. With a new bike, the first year is all about getting the thing ready to race and ironing out the problems, so this year will all be about testing and then ready for our track debut at Laguna Seca on July 14th. It's going to be an interesting weekend, because Laguna is not the easiest track to debut a new bike, but that'll add to the fun for sure.

Q:
How are the team fitting together and how is the development of the bike going?

TC:
I visited Foggy and saw a prototype of the bike recently and I'm impressed with the team and how they are going about the business. I don't think that the finished product is going to look much like what I saw, but it's going to cause a bit of a stir for sure. Foggy and I actually get on pretty well and I know that my experience developing bikes (like the Aprilia) is one reason why he asked me to join the team.

My aim this year is to get the bike in the very best possible condition to be competitive and try and get some good results before the end of the year. Next year we will be stronger and more experienced and we'll be chasing some podiums, and in the third year, I'd like to think we'll be competing for the title! I'm very positive about the whole project, because the back-up is there in bucket-loads and everybody involved is so enthusiastic. I can't wait to swing my leg over the bike and start. In the meantime, I've been working out and getting fitter, so when the time comes to ride - I'll be ready.

Q:
How do you like to relax? Do you spend much time at home with your family?

TC:
Winter is a time I like to use to catch up with my family and friends back in Australia. I went to my parent's farm and chilled out for a while, but it wasn't long before I started getting active again. We built a bit of a dirt-track at the farm and I'm out most days riding around with a young kid Joss Foster. I've been banging bars with him on the dirt-track we built and it's been real good fun. He's pretty good at it too!

I'm helping him out because I think he could be a real prospect. I got him a 250 Aprilia and although he's only sixteen and only started racing recently, he became the youngest rider to get an 'A' Grade in Australia. It's good to be able to put something back into the sport and it's fun for me because he's an Aussie! It's also keeping me on the ball, keeping ahead of him!

Q:
Tell us about Lamborghini.

TC:
Lamborghini have asked me to take part in a support race for the F1 Melbourne GP, but I don't think I'll be able to do it really. It's about the time my new team will be testing and my job comes first. Obviously, it would be fun to race the Lambo in front of a massive crowd, but we'll have to see what happens nearer the time. I'd say at the moment it's unlikely, but it's nice to be asked and maybe I can have another go after the season finishes.