Australia's Troy Corser has agreed to ride for the Foggy Petronas team this year, after lengthy discussions with team boss Carl Fogarty. However the Motor Cylce News has reported that the thirty-year-old former World Superbike champion is yet to sign for the team to partner English rider Jam💦es Haydon.

"I've spoken to Carl a lot over the past few weeks and I came to England to see the Petronas bike. I was very impressed by what I saw," Corser told MCN. "I'm sorting out the small legal issues that are always part of contract negotiations. I don't see anything major in this but it has to be 🍒done," he added.

Fogarty admitted that discussions had taken place, but was cautious not to confirm anything prematurely. "I ♕have spoken to Troy, but there is nothing definite to say about that u▨ntil a contract is signed for sure."

It was believed that Fogarty and Corser were not great friends when they were team-mates at Ducati in 1998 and 1999, the Englishman's championship win🧜ning seasons; so Fogarty's decision to approach Corser was unexpected. He denied all speculation of their relationship being less than close: "I've never got on better with a team-mate," claimed Fogarty.

Corser's first full season in World Superbikes was in 🅠1995, where he finished second in the standings, behind Fogarty. He won the title the following year on a Ducati. In 1997 a switch to Yamaha saw him compete in less than half the races due to contractual problems. He re🤡turned to Ducati for 1998 and 1999, finishing third in the championship both years.

He was third again🌟 in 2000, thi💧s time for Aprilia, and only managed fourth last season, despite winning the opening races in Valencia.

Corser had hoped to ride for Aprilia again in 2002, either in Superbikes or on the Italian team's new four-stroke Grand Prix machine. But✱ when Noriyuki Haga and Regis Laconis got those rides he ⭕was left without a deal for the coming season.

The team announced its creation and ambitions to race in the World Superbike ser🐎ies at the end of November last year. It is backed by the Malaysian national oil company Petronas and powered by Swiss engine produ🍸cer Sauber. The plan is for the bikes to compete in their debut race at Leguna Seca in the US on the 14th July, which is the ninth round of the World Superbike Championship.

"We have got so much work to do now to get the bike and team set up, ꦛbut getting riders signed is also one of the most important aspects," said the 36-year-old Fogarty.