WORLD champion Carl Fogarty today staked a claim to being the Best of British.

The debate has raged for years over whether triple world champ Fogarty is a better rider than former pin-up Barry Sheene.

Sheene has always argued that the Grand Prix circuit was tougher than World Superbikes.

But, with far bigger crowds now supporting Superbike events and with 100,000 expected for this weekend's ninth round at Brands Hatch, many believe that the 750cc machines now provide the greater test.

Fogarty is adamant that, had he ever moved to the 500cc Grand Prix circuit, he would have enjoyed similar success.

And he uses the fact that Spanish rider Alex Criville, a former World Superbikes rider who enjoyed precious little success in opposition to Fogarty, is currently leading the 500cc championship to argue his case.

Fogarty also believes that Sheene, a double 500cc world champion, enjoyed a large slice of luck during his time at the top. "His opposition were guys that were almost retiring like Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read.

"And some young ones were not that good, like Virginio Ferrari who used to be my boss at Ducati.

"I just feel that it was the right time, the right place and Sheene had the best bike, although you have got to have the best bike to win the championship.

"Then the Americans and Australians came. Kenny Roberts won it three years in a row and the Australians have dominated ever since.

"For the next 10 years he never got a look in and then retired."

Fogarty believes that Sheene's talent lay as much in marketing as in riding a motorbike.

He added: "Barry was very famous for being Barry Sheene.

"He was very good at marketing himself. He lived in London, had a model wife. That's why he became famous, hanging out with showbiz people all the time.

"He also became famous for crashing at the big events.

"I think he would admit that he was never that fit and he didn't do any training. He didn't need to in that era, it wasn't the same."

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