MOTORCYCLE ace Carl Fogarty woke up today sharing a New Year Honours winner's podium with a Lancashire football legend and a pleasure beach boss!

The 31-year-old rider - who has six world titles under his belt - described his MBE for services to the sport as the best New Year present he could wish for.

And the news of the honour for his achievements from his country will be just the tonic for Carl who is recovering from a knee operation at his Tockholes home.

"It is great news and I'm really made up. It is always nice to be recognised for what you have done but getting an honour like this is just the best thing possible," said the father-of-two.

Carl has been at the top of his sport for more than a decade and has a huge following of motorcycling enthusiasts.

In the past ten years he has won six world championships and raced to victory in 20 different countries.

For proud dad George, who has been Carl's biggest fan since he first showed in interest in motorcycling as a child, the MBE from the Prime Minister is a fitting accolade. "He has done so much for Blackburn and for his country. I've often fought back the tears as I've watched thousands of Union Jack flags flying and the national anthem playing in Holland or Australia or wherever Carl has won," said George of Blackburn, himself a former motorcycle racer.

"He's deserved everything he has got and it is great for the town."

And it will give extra impetus as he prepares to try to win back the world crown he secured in 1994 and 1995 next year.

A month ago, Carl underwent a cruciate ligament operation carried out by the same surgeon who operated on Alan Shearer.

"Everything has gone very well so far and hopefully I'll be able to start training back in the gym very soon," said Carl.

The rider, who finished second in this year's World Superbike Championships, is hoping to be fit to head for Australia at the end of January to start testing his Ducati ready for the start of the 1998/1999 campaign.

Another famous Lancashire sportsman, Tom Finney, who remained faithful to Preston North End throughout his illustrious soccer career, which ended in 1960, receives a knighthood.

Finney, now in his mid-70s, was regarded as the most complete forward of his generation, scoring 187 goals in 431 League games for Preston and 30 goals in 76 English internationals.

Other Lancashire honours include the OBE for William Thompson, managing director, of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

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