Fogarty grabs a Jag!

Four-time World Superbike Champion, Carl Fogarty, has swapped two wheels for four and taken delivery of a new, limited edition Jaguar XKR 100 convertible.

Thirty-six year old Fogarty, from Lancashire, set his heart on the 155mph luxury sports car following a conversation with Jaguar Racing Formula One driver Eddie Irvine at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

"Both Eddie and I were entered in the Festival and we got to talking about cars and bikes," he recalls. "Eddie has a Jaguar XKR himself and said it was a fantastic car, and that I had to get one myself. It is a great car, a unique combination of style and performance. After being used to laying my knee down, I am now enjoying putting my foot down!"

Following a racing accident that broke his left arm, Fogarty reluctantly retired from competitive riding during the 2000 season. Now, with the backing of the Malaysian Petronas company, he has set up his own race team - Foggy Petronas Racing - to run in the World Superbike championship for five years. So the Blackburn ace is looking forward to travelling around Europe in his new Jaguar.

Fogarty's XKR 100 is one of a limited edition of 500, built to commemorate the centenary of Sir William Lyons, Jaguar's founder. Powered by a supercharged 370bhp V8, each XKR 100 has distinctive 'Anthracite' metallic paint, eye-catching 20" R Performance alloy wheels, uprated Brembo brakes and leather-trimmed Recaro seats.

But 'Foggy' won't be putting his two-wheeling days entirely behind him: he has also been provided with an MBK Nitro Jaguar Racing scooter. Finished in the Jaguar Racing colours of green and red, the special edition MBK Nitro scooter has a 49cc engine and is available from Yamaha (UK).