THIRTY years after taking a memorable victory at Castle Combe before going on to win four World Superbike titles, Carl Fogarty will be the star guest at the West Country’s biggest motorcycle race meeting – the Castle Combe Grand National – which takes place at the Wiltshire track this summer.

Fogarty won the prestigious World Superbike Championship in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999, taking 59 victories in the process, at a time when the series was arguably in its heyday with huge crowds watching on both television and trackside.

Still a regular on the motorcycling scene, Fogarty will be the star attraction at the meeting at Combe – where he has also set a lap record – from August 31 to September 1 and is looking forward to a return to the track which paved the way to his world championship glory.

“It will be great to go back to Castle Combe after all this time. It’s a circuit full of character and I always enjoyed racing there,” said Fogarty.

“I remember the race in which I set the lap record 30 years ago well. It was one of my first races on that Honda RC30 and I hadn’t had much chance to set it up properly, so I reckon I could have gone a lot quicker.”

Fogarty will also help celebrate another one of Britain’s greatest motorcycle racers, the legendary Barry Sheene, who will also be commemorated at the meeting.

Sheene, who went on to win the 1976 and 1977 500cc World Championship, took victory at Castle Combe aboard his Bultaco back in 1969, so plans are afoot to celebrate his 50-year association with the circuit as well as his extraordinary career with displays and parades.

In addition, there will be the usual packed programme of racing organised by NG Road Racing Club and featuring a number of major championships over the weekend.

With some of the best club race action in the country which always leads to packed grids, race director Steve Bostock and his team will once again deliver an end of summer feast which last year included some brilliant racing over the weekend.

Castle Combe managing director Graham Marshallsay said “To have a personality like Foggy attending our biggest bike meeting of the year is a massive coup for us here at Castle Combe, especially with it being exactly 30 years since his famous victory here and setting the outright lap record.

“Many of the riders racing at the meeting aspire to reach Carl’s achievements so it will be great for them too. Plus, celebrating Barry Sheene’s 50th anniversary too means it’s going to be a fantastic weekend not to be missed.”