SUPERBIKE legend Carl Fogarty today backed Rovers to mount a charge for the top eight this season -- providing new-boy Dwight Yorke shows the necessary stomach for the challenge.

Foggy knows just how tough it is to keep motivating yourself week in, week out after spending the vast majority of your career at the top.

And the Blackburn bullet believes a similar situation is now facing Yorke after he quit Manchester United for Rovers over the summer.

"When you've been at a big club like he has and won a lot of trophies and been paid a lot of money it's then difficult to find the motivation to keep doing it elsewhere, so a lot depends on his hunger and how badly he wants it," said the four-times World Superbike champion.

"I saw him recently against Lazio and he looked pretty sharp so he seems to be up for the challenge and it's going to be interesting to see how he does.

"When he first went to United he did so well it was incredible but for whatever reason he then fell out of favour and I don't think we'll ever find out exactly why.

"Somehow he managed to upset Fergie in a big way and he never got a look in after that.

"So this is a chance to make a fresh start and the fact he's back in harness with Andy Cole should also help him to focus.

"They were a quality partnership in their prime and if they can rekindle that magic with Rovers then who knows what could happen."

On paper at least, the Yorke and Cole partnership would appear to offer plenty of goal-power up front.

Last season, Cole found the net an impressive 13 times in 20 appearances following his club-record move from United but Foggy still finds the former England man a little frustrating at times.

"I must admit when Glenn Hoddle said what he did about Andy Cole I kind of agreed to a certain extent," said Foggy, with typical honesty.

"He is the type of player who does need five chances to score a goal but at United he would get that and the question is can Rovers do the same?

"Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a great player but sometimes when he gets a really good chance he'll make a complete mess of it.

"Then when you think he has no chance of scoring, he'll go and stick one in.

"So it's going to be interesting to see how him and Yorke hit it off."

So what does Foggy expect from the team as a whole during the next nine months?

"I'm optimistic about their chances and I think they should be looking for a top 10 finish this season," said the Blackburn bike-ace.

"Last season, I thought they'd finish 13th so they surpassed my expectations and also managed to win a cup as well.

"So this time I think they can do even better than that because they've managed to keep hold of all their key players as well as adding Dwight Yorke, too."

Meanwhile, Mick Spencer, a vocalist with local rock-band The Burn who recently supported Oasis, believes Rovers should be setting their sights even higher than that.

"I'm really excited about the new season," said Spencer, a staunch Blackburn fan.

"Finishing 10th last season was a fantastic achievement because I thought we were going down at one point.

"But now we've got Dwight Yorke, I don't see why we can't go on from here so I'd like to see them finish in the top five this time because I think they are more than capable of that.

"I can't believe we got someone like Yorke for £2 million because I thought he was worth more than that so I just hope he's not passed it."

Spencer also hopes the club can embark on a Euro adventure when they kick-off their UEFA Cup campaign next month and he and several members of the band are already planning to take time out from their busy schedule to watch Rovers abroad.

"Because we are always gigging and that it's difficult to get down to matches but I want to watch them in Europe," added Spencer.

"I know the UEFA Cup is a bit Mickey Mouse compared to the Champions League and we've got a few bad memories of Europe from the past but it should be a great experience for the club and I'm hoping to get out to see a game if I can."