Troy Corser will not be returning to the Foggy PETRONAS Racing team for the 2005 Superbike World Championship campaign.

The Australian 33-year-old has informed team owner Carl Fogarty that he has decided to seek new opportunities after three years with the FPR project – to build and race the PETRONAS FP1, the first Malaysian superbike.

This season Troy claimed two pole positions on the PETRONAS FP1 as well as finishing second in the first race at Misano. He finished the season 9th in the rider standings with a total of 146 points and helped PETRONAS clinch third spot in the manufacturer standings, in just their second season in the Superbike World Championship.

Troy has been with the project since the launch of the team in 2002 and was instrumental in helping to develop race and road bikes that were mere concepts just three years ago. His first season of racing saw him finish 12th in the 2003 rider standings with a total of 107 points.

Troy, a former World Superbike champion in 1996, said: “My time involved with the project has been fantastic. Although it has been frustrating at times I cannot think of any other project that has achieved so much in motorcycle racing in such a short time.

“I know that the bike will still improve but I want to ride a proven bike next year, to give myself the best possible chance of another shot at a world title at this stage of my career. I have done three years with the project and I have got the bike to where I wanted it to be – it’s certainly good enough to achieve pole positions! But now I am looking for a new challenge and my next challenge will be with another team in World Superbikes.

“It has been a real team effort through some good times and some tough times and we have made a lot of friends. One of my lasting impressions will be the promotional tour we did for PETRONAS in Malaysia and seeing how much good work they do with the community and schoolchildren. I have never been involved with a big corporation that has that attitude.”

Carl Fogarty said: “Troy has done a good job for us in our two years of racing and it is a shame that we have to lose him. He probably still feels that he is as fast as anyone out there and feels that he can still win the world championship on another bike. It is now up to us to prove him wrong.”

Foggy PETRONAS Racing are currently pursuing a number of options to replace Troy. An announcement on his own future is expected in the near future.