CARL Fogarty's New Year's Resolution is simple - to win back the World Superbike crown to add to the MBE he has just been awarded.

The 31-year-old rider believes this year he will be firm favourite to regain the title that he narrowly missed out on last season.

But although the technical preparation for the title challenge begins in earnest within weeks, Carl admits he has other things on his mind right now.

A cruciate ligament operation he had a month ago appears to have been a complete success but Carl doesn't want to count his chickens just yet.

"I'm not thinking too much about the season at the moment. I'd be just too disappointed if there was a problem with my knee and I couldn't take part. I'm just concentrating on getting fit again."

So far the recovery has been remarkable. Just hours after the keyhole operation - carried out by the same surgeon who put soccer star Alan Shearer under the knife - Carl was able to walk on it.

Physiotherapist Mike Pettigrew, who helped Shearer's rehabilitation after his op, told Carl he was making better progress than the striker had done at this stage. "So far everything's fine and hopefully I'll be able to get back training in the gym very soon."

Carl believes riding for a new team will give his title bid fresh impetus this year.

Although he is still on a factory ride with Ducati, Carl is in a separate team - Team Ducati Performance - to the Italian firm's two other riders.

"It should be much better from my point of view. The team has been built around me and hopefully that will give me an advantage.

"It has taken me two years to recover from leaving Ducati and get back to this stage but this season I really should be favourite to win it."

Provided he gets the medical all clear Carl is expecting to fly out to Australia late in January to begin testing on the Ducati ready for the season start in March.

"I can't wait to get back out on the track again. I really believe this year will be mine."

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