FORMER World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty is getting set to lead Lye’s Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s much-anticipated Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival 2017 this weekend.

Taking place on Sunday (April 30), Bike4Life – now in its seventh year – has grown to become one of the country’s most popular biker events.

More than 6,000 bikers regularly take part in the ride out which runs 23 miles and joining 'Foggy' this weekend will be motorcycle and truck racing legend Steve Parrish, former Boyzone popstar and professional drift driver Shane Lynch and adventure motorcyclist and author Nick Sanders.

Carl was the star of Bike4Life in 2015, and is returning this year as part of his continued commitment to the Dudley Road-based charity, which airlifts motorcyclists to hospital on a regular basis.

The ride starts at 11.30am from Meole Brace in Shrewsbury, finishing up at RAF Cosford, home to the Bike4Life Festival, which attracts a further 6,000 people.

This year’s festival will feature performances from live bands, including headliners The Wholls, a special skydive display from the Red Devils, and performances by Nitro Circus freestyle motocross star, Jamie Squibb.

Jason Levy from Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and chair of the Bike4Life organising committee, said: “As well as being a great day out, Bike4Life also aims to raise vitally important funds for our lifesaving service.”

Entrance to the Bike4Life Festival, which last year raised £63,500 – funding 25 air ambulance missions across the region – costs £5 per person and under 16s go free.