Four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, never afraid to 'speak his mind' about other riders during - and after - his racing career, looks to have had a change of heart towards his former rivals.

In a somewhat out-of-the-blue posting on his Twitter account (@carlfogarty) earlier this week, Fogarty wrote:

"Been thinking... I just want to say sorry for the things I said when I was racing. Mainly to Aaron Slight, Scott Russell, Colin Edwards and...

"John kockinski... sorry!"

‘King Carl’, who still holds the all-time record for World Superbike wins (59) and titles, raced in WSBK full-time from 1991-2000, when he was forced to retire after shattering his shoulder at Phillip Island.

The Englishman then headed the Foggy Petronas team during its five-year WSBK project, which came to an end in 2006.