CARL Fogarty today welcomed the news that his Foggy Petronas Racing team has been granted permission to compete in this year's World Superbike Championship.

A recent inspection by the sport's governing body, the FIM, revealed that sponsors Petronas had successfully built the 75 road versions of the Foggy FP1 race bike that are necessary to meet the entry requirements of the production series.

And the four-times World Champion is glad that his team can now focus on the first race of the championship, in Valencia, Spain, on March 2.

Fogarty said: "Everyone involved in this project deserves a big pat on the back for their efforts.

"The hard work in achieving homologation is over - now our hard work of racing begins.

"We have been working flat out during the winter to prepare for the first race and, while it is important to realise that this is a long-term project, hopefully we can repay the faith placed in us by Petronas as soon as possible."

Riders Troy Corser and James Haydon will be in action for the final time before the first round of the championship when a three-day official World Superbike test begins in Valencia on Friday, February 21st.