POCKLINGTON Coachworks today confirmed a contract which is likely to make it the leading trailer-maker in world motorcycle racing.

The Osbaldwick firm, whose last-word-in-luxury trailers are already coveted by the top car racing teams in Formula 1, has been commissioned to build a £300,000-plus hospitality vehicle for the eagerly-awaited Foggy Petronas bid for the World Superbike championships.

The firm, which was last year's Evening Press Business of the Year, has quickly begun the project so the super trailer can be ready in time to entertain more than 100 guests in Valencia, Spain, at the start of the European round of next year's championships on March 2.

Pocklington Coachworks has already built a £350,000 hospitality trailer for the HM Plant Ducati, sponsors of GSE Racing, the champion British World Superbike team, as well as a trailer for Castrol Honda.

But given that the Foggy Petronas entry represents a comeback in management form of Carl Fogerty, four times world champion and two-wheeled superhero, the world spotlight will be beamed directly at the vehicle.

Fran Johnson, managing director of Pocklington Coachworks, who was also the 2001 Evening Press Business Personality of the Year, said: "It is a real breakthrough in the world motorcycle racing market and could ultimately be worth millions."

Today's announcement comes as his firm prepares to build a third trailer for the Williams Formula 1 team.

A technical trailer for engineers during race weekends in Europe, followed by a support vehicle for equipment was completed last year. The third trailer will carry cars and double up as a workshop. Work starts next summer and the trailer is expected to be ready for the 2004 season.

Meanwhile, the Osbaldwick firm's biggest contract ever is nearing completion. A leading Formula 1 team has commissioned a multi-million pound task - a complete redesign of its four-vehicle engineering fleet - and all should be ready for Imola in Italy, the first European Grand Prix of 2003.

The firm is also about to unveil a range of generic race trailers for Grand Tourer racing series like Le Mans and the Indie 500.

Mr Johnson said: "They will carry two cars each and double as workshops when the cars are removed and will also provide office and engineering facilities at race weekends. We plan to formally launch the range at the four-day Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham starting on January 9."

Updated: 10:20 Tuesday, November 05, 2002