HE broke a lap record becoming the fastest man at the Isle of Man TT for seven years.

Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty’s phenomenal and adrenaline-packed career also saw him claim 59 victories and four World Superbike Championships.

But the racing icon and I’m A Celeb winner told Weekend that he never had a ‘need for speed’ and has not chased that thrill since retiring in 2000.

Foggy reckons what gave him his edge was an all consuming obsession with winning that was sometimes at odds with his wellbeing.

He said: “I think it was the fear of losing. I probably wasn’t the most naturally talented out there if I’m honest. It was my attitude and mental strength I think – it would get me to the end.

“It was never about the thrill of going fast – it was about wanting to win and be world champion.”

Foggy will be talking about his life and career when he visits the Parr Hall on February 20.

The 54-year-old has come to really enjoy giving talks because it has given him the chance to reflect on his achievements.

He admitted that at the time, after each great victory, all he was thinking about was the next race.

Foggy added: “You’d cross that line, listen to the national anthem, spray a bit of champagne and then my mind would quickly move to the next race.

“When everyone else was out at a party I was bloody knackered because I was physically and mentally drained from the race.

“It was even hard to sleep because I’d re-run it all in my mind.”

But doing the ‘An Evening With...’ format has given Foggy the chance to take stock.

“You do start thinking about it,” he said.

“I’ve achieved things that nobody else has in motorcycle racing like winning everything on the road circuits, winning the TT and becoming the fastest man at the Isle of Man TT.

“I held the lap record for seven years and then went on to become a world champion on the short circuits. I was last person to do that and it probably won’t happen again. It’s a big thing and a proud moment when you’re saying out loud sometimes.”

The two-wheeled life was instilled in Foggy from a young age as he is the son of motorbike racer George Fogarty.

Foggy said: “Whatever you get brought up around, the chances are you’re probably going to end up doing that as a hobby or a profession and that was the case for me.

“I’m just thankful my dad didn’t play cricket, that’s all I can say! So I had a bike at about nine or 10 and saw my dad racing around the UK and the Isle of Man TT.

“I wanted to be a world champion as early as I can remember and I told that to anybody who would listen.

“I remember being about 12 on the backfield playing football and telling this to all my school friends.

“I was cocky even then but I did have the determination and the aggression to succeed more than a lot of people at that time.

“My biggest fans were my mum and dad. They were there for every race in the UK.

“My dad left me to my own devices in figuring out how to win but he bought me a bike when I was 18 and away we went. I pretty much had success straight away.

“Once I had my first win it became an obsession. I changed overnight. It led to win after win after win.”

Now after 20 years off the track, it is surprising to hear Foggy say he does not miss it.

“I was almost glad it was over in some ways,” he added.

“The sport was so big when I was in World Superbike. At the height of it for me there was constant TV coverage and the crowds were massive in a way that hasn’t been seen since.

“So in a way I was glad it was over. I wanted to relax and not to have that pressure and expectation to win a race again.

“I didn’t need to replace that part of my life by going fast on something else.

“Besides I didn’t really get the chance to properly retire.

“I signed a Ducati contract to be an ambassador and then along came this opportunity to run this race team and build a motorcycle for Petronus for World Superbike.

“I think when one door closes another opens – well it has in my case so I’ve not been sat around watching TV or playing golf.”

‘It was never about the thrill of going fast’

Then there was Foggy’s surprise decision to go on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2014.

He was asked many times before he said yes and even now it still amazes him that he was declared ‘king of the jungle’.

“That was a hell of a rollercoaster ride,” said Foggy.

“It’s one of the biggest TV shows in the UK. The celebrity aspect didn’t really interest me but I love the outdoors anyway and I kept wondering how I’d get on.

“The producers asked me a lot of times and I took a lot of persuasion.

“I said to my manager ‘I’ll probably walk out’ and even my wife said: ‘Don’t do it. Everyone will hate you. I know what you’re like’.

“But, of course, I did it and even to this day I can’t believe I won.

“I think it helped that I came across as a normal guy who went through a bit of a whirlwind on a motorbike.”

Foggy lasted three weeks in the Australian jungle taking part in various bushtucker trials to beat 11 other celebrities including Melanie Sykes.

His final task saw him tackle a meal of cockroaches, tarantulas, mealworms, ostrich anus and camel penis.

“It didn’t bother me to be honest,” Foggy added.

“I’m not scared of anything like that and I’d give it a go.

“If it tasted bad I’d spit it right out but whatever I ate had no taste – it was just salty and crunchy. You just munch it down quick with a bit of water. The worst bit was when we had to play this game and this spin thing landed on me and I had to drink this deer blood mixed with liver and kidney.

“It was a bit gritty and it smelt a bit and I thought: ‘How am I going to keep this down?’

“It’s funny because when I was off camera the doctor came over and said the best thing I could do was keep it down because of all the protein in it.

“It’s a bit like racing – it was about setting your mind to it and saying: ‘I can do this’.”

But Foggy says his moment in the reality TV spotlight is over.

He said: “I think my mates would take the mickey if I was in Strictly. Other shows aren’t for me. I feel like I’ve done the biggest one, the best one, and come out on top so I’m happy with that really.”

HC Promotions presents An Evening with Carl Fogarty on Thursday, February 20. Visit parrhall.culturewarrington.org