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01 May 2018

On Thursday 19th April, Birkenhead School was delighted to host another Linghams Booksellers’ event – this time welcoming in the World Superbike Champion – Carl Fogarty, MBE, to talk about his new book ‘The World According to Foggy’.

Over his incredible career, Carl obtained 59 victories and four World Superbike championships but spoke of how it had always been difficult for him to see himself as a celebrity, he always felt like the boy from Blackburn.

Carl discussed how he started out as an arrogant and angry young man, dealing with a sudden celebrity lifestyle and so was pleased to be given the chance to show his true self in ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ Carl had been asked to do the show years earlier but hadn’t felt in the right frame of mind so had turned it down, but in 2014, he felt ready for the “amazing experience” and loved every minute of it – particularly the part when he was crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ – his “coolest title ever” and one that he still proudly owns today, as Foggy pointed out - there have been three 'Queens of the Jungle' since he won.

During the evening, Foggy entertained his thoroughly-engaged audience with examples of stories from the book, highlighting how this was a book for everyone, a funny read that all could enjoy, without necessarily being a motorsport fan.

Carl spoke passionately about his love for motorcycle racing and his concerns that it doesn’t get the profile it should, often being overshadowed by the F1.

It was in 2000 when Carl was racing at Phillip Island and suffered multiple injuries, following a crash. His shoulder injury failed to heal well enough for him to continue racing and he was forced to retire from the sport. This was “the nature of the beast” according to Foggy, although he pointed out that today’s sport is much safer, with clothing also being better, adding more protection.

Nowadays, Carl does a lot of work for charities, particularly the NSPCC, which is why in July 2016, Foggy walked across Iceland to help raise money for the fantastic charity.

As well as charity work, Carl has also entered into a rather unusual business relationship, alongside Lawrence Dallaglio and James Blunt, opening a restaurant in Verbier, called ‘La Vache’, that is proving very popular.

Ending the talk, Foggy answered questions from his passionate and knowledgeable audience, before signing books, no doubt taken home and read that night to continue finding out about this very interesting, funny and down-to-earth man.