CARL Fogarty has revealed that serious technical difficulties are sabotaging his bid for a fourth world title.

The reigning World Superbike champion could only manage a fourth and 19th place in front of an incredible 121,000 fans at Brands Hatch yesterday.

But, while his nearest rival and Ducati team-mate Troy Corser gained only one point in the championship standings, the rival Castrol Honda camp are closing in fast.

Fogarty told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, said: "We have got a lot of hard work to do if we are going to win this.

"There are so many problems at the rear of the bike. We have got to get it right on race day but we didn't get it right.

"It was out of my hands. If the package underneath me is not right, I cannot win."

In race one a large chunk of his rear tyre flew off, forcing Fogarty to pull into pit lane.

And the choice of a harder tyre for the second race failed to solve the problem, leaving Fogarty exasperated and "demoralised".

"I was so sorry for those fans. It had to happen here. I have never had to pull in because of tyre problems apart from here.

"The only thing I can do now is win the championship," he added. Fogarty still holds a 48 point lead with 200 still up for grabs in the next four rounds.

He said: "I have won on all those tracks but I have no idea what is going to happen.

"I don't understand. There are circuits where we aren't favourites and we win, while on others, where we are clear favourites, we just can't get a good result. It has been that kind of year."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.