CARL Fogarty is pushing for a radical change to his Ducati bike in a bid to solve the tyre problems which dogged his Brand Hatch showcase event.

The Italian manufacturers called a top level meeting with tyre manufacturers Michelin and suspension experts Ohlins after Sunday's flop.

Fogarty is losing grip, and therefore speed, in hot conditions as the tyres suffer under the load placed on them.

But Fogarty has suggested a solution - and one which worked for the rival Honda camp in 1997.

That is to introduce a 'double-sided swinging arm', which will help stabilise the rear wheel and take some pressure off the tyres.

And his disappointing ninth round of the World Superbike Championship has prompted Fogarty to fire broadside at wingeing opponents.

Rival manufacturers had complained earlier in the series that the Ducatis were at an advantage because of their superior cornering ability.

Their complaints prompted officials to consider changing the rules to give the other bikes a chance. But the Castrol Hondas ridden by Colin Edwards and Aaron Slight at Brands were a lot quicker on the straights and easier on the tyres, allowing them to use the softest rubber compound with the greatest grip.

Foggy blasted: "The one thing that annoyed me more than anything is that Honda are always complaining about my bike.

"But they have more power than me out there."

Slight, who was second in both races on Sunday and is 94 points behind Fogarty in the championship, turned the heat up in the championship battle. He said: "It was rather nice not to have those red bikes out in front, and they were not there at Laguna. Maybe we are turning the season around."

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