WORLD Superbike champion Carl Fogarty today threatened to quit racing over a legal wrangle with his uncle.

Blackburn's race ace is fighting a complicated battle to prevent his uncle, Brian Fogarty, from selling merchandise on the back of his name.

And the saga has prompted the four-times world champion to consider hanging up his racing leathers just a month before the start of his latest title defence

Bosses at Fogarty's employers, Ducati, are so concerned that a crisis legal meeting has been called for March 13 in London.

Carl, who lives in Mellor, refused to comment on the latest development.

But a close family friend said: "Carl does not see why he should go out and risk his life when somebody, who he now hates, is set to make money out of it. "He was struggling to get motivated for this season, without all this. Now he is wondering whether it is all worth the hassle."

Fogarty informed Ducati of his intentions last week before leaving for a family holiday in Tenerife.

His team boss, Davide Tardozzi, was so concerned that the Italian outfit's legal experts were told to intervene immediately.

The long-running dispute had caused a four-month rift with his father, George.

But that has now been patched up and George is trying to seek an amicable solution without the need for a court ruling.

The dispute centres around an agreement that Fogarty signed five years ago, permitting his uncle to sellithe rider's pottery memorabilia.

But Brian Fogarty, of Pleasington Street, Blackburn, initially became involved with a company called Foggy Promotions, owned by Motorsport Enterprises, which claims that the agreement means they own the rights to sell a wider range of merchandise. And, in the latest development, Carl Fogarty's legal experts have discovered that another company called Harvest Motorsports Ltd, of which Brian Fogarty is a director, is attempting to register Fogarty's name, signature, Carl Fogarty merchandise, the word Foggy, and his famous 'Foggy eyes' logo, for commercial purposes.

That application is due in court next month, when Carl Fogarty will oppose it.

It is understood that Carl Fogarty spoke to a Cheshire-based businessman, John Gee, who heads the Harvest group of companies, after contact was first made with the Fogarty family by Blackburn businessman Barry Marsden.

Gee and Marsden have had close business links in the past.

But Gee said today: "I don't think I want to comment on that.

"Barry Marsden has no authority to act on behalf of Harvest. "He doesn't fit into the picture.

"I think he is a friend of the Fogarty family."

Barry Marsden's name has been linked with a string of failed companies in East Lancashire.

He hit the headlines back in 1991 when a company called Voltair he fronted crashed owing £960,000 - including £150,000 Blackburn Council had lent the firm.

Gee added: "It is now down to a discussion between Carl and myself.

"It's very early for me to comment."

Fogarty has been trying to obtain a court order to stop Foggy Promotions from selling his official line of goods, which has grown into a lucrative business following the rider's amazing success.

Brian Fogarty has previously told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that he is acting to protect his own interests.

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