A NEW gateway road into Blackburn will be named after the town’s motorcycle racing star and TV ‘King of the Jungle’ Carl Fogarty.

The four-time World Superbike champion, known as ‘Foggy’, will take to two wheels to open the 600-metre Carl Fogarty Way from the Red Lion roundabout near M65 junction six to Bottomgate.

He joins a select group of local heroes with roads named after them including Blackburn Rovers benefactor Jack Walker, the club’s Premiership goal-scoring hero Alan Shearer and former MP Barbara Castle.

The road, the last section of the £4.8million Furthergate Link Road, will open in summer following the completion of the short missing section near Tesco’s Hill Street store.

Mr Fogarty plans to ride his CCM ‘Foggy Edition’ Spitfire through the ribbon to officially open the new highway, parallel to Burnley Road, in June.

The 53-year-old was awarded the MBE in the 1998 New Year Honours and in 2014 was named King of the Jungle on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!.

Earlier this month his local pub in his home village of Mellor launched a new craft beer by Lancashire’s Crankshaft Brewery named Foggy Gold in his honour.

Mr Fogarty, who was born and raised in Blackburn and went to Darwen Vale High School, said: “I’m really thrilled and honoured to have a road named after me in my home town.

“I was pleased that it’s a pretty major link road.

“It’s also appropriate that it comes off the Red Lion roundabout, as the lion is the King of the Jungle.

“Having been born in Blackburn and gone to school in Darwen makes this a bit more special. In view of my motorcycle racing past, having a road named after me seems very appropriate.

“Rather than cut the ribbon to open it, I’ll ride my bike through it!”

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn highways boss, said: “Foggy is a true local hero. It seemed entirely appropriate to name this new road in his honour.”

Cllr John Slater, borough Conservative group leader, said: “It’s a good choice, He has been a perfect ambassador for the borough.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Roy Davies said: “It’s totally appropriate. I just hope drivers don’t go along at the speed Foggy did on his superbikes.”

Mr Fogarty’s new road joins Alan Shearer Way in Ewood, and Barbara Castle Way and Wainwright Way in Blackburn town centre.

There are also Jack Walker Way and other ‘Rovers Legends’ on the Fernhurst estate including Dalglish Drive, Hendry Lane and Garner Avenue.

UK athletics Olympic marathon runner Ron Hill also has a road named after him in his native Accrington.

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