(from autosport) After testing a Ducati MotoGP bike last year in Valencia, seven time world champion Michael Schumacher again proved he was almost as fast on two wheels as he was on four, when he finished third in a bike race, held at the Hungarian track of Pannonia-Ring on Thursday. Although the majority of the 27 bikers who entered the 10-lap race were enthusiastic amateurs, 39-year-old Schumacher faced some tough competition, as his teammate at the Holzhauer Racing Promotion team was none other than 2007 IDM (Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft) Superbike Champion Martin Bauer. An other IDM rider, Andy Meklau, was also on the grid. Schumacher, apparently competing just for fun, and wearing his orange overalls and black helmet familiar from the Ducati tests, arrived at the Pannonia-Ring, a 4,740 metres long track near the Hungarian village of Ostffyasszonyfa, late afternoon on Wednesday. He then completed only a handful of laps, but went on to claim pole position for the race on Thursday, although it has to be noted the professional IDM riders' bikes didn't have timing transponders and were relegated to the back of the grid. Instead of starting from pole, Schumacher - riding an 1000 ccm Honda Superbike - decided to join them on the last row, but then made his way up the field to finish third behind fellow Honda racer Bauer and Meklau, who was on a Suzuki. All three competed in the 600+ ccm category. Schumacher's best lap of 2:01.309 was about six seconds slower compared to what his professional rivals were capable of, but was still 0.6 seconds quicker than anyone else could manage in the course of the race. Although Schumacher's presence was mostly unexpected, some 250-300 people still turned up to watch the race. But they were left a bit disappointed when their hero, shying away from making a public appearance, decided not to attend the podium ceremony.
How does this jibe with TifosiRon's excuse that the reason he retired from F1 was his family's concerns over safety? He's racing motorcycles, testing f1 cars...
You know, I never got hurt in the over 100 mph crashes (and I had more than a few), it was always the under 100 crashes that sent me to the hospital. Art
You are so easily confused. Answer: He's not racing side by side in an open wheeled race car diving into a first turn with 21 other cars. Let's see, that or an amateur moto race, which is more dangerous? I kinda see the difference, not sure why you can't. Bottom line, wife, father wanted him to retire after his mother died. And maybe now he is in trouble because he told the wife he was going fishing that weekend and he's been outed! If he didn't retire for this reason, he would have been racing for another team in F1, you think? MS would have stayed in racing. Or are you still sticking with that already refuted story that Luca forced him off the team?? Yes, that's it, Luca treated him like crap, so Michael swallowed his pride and is now the official team consultant. That's real plausible Ted. Not.
If it was a Moto GP where was Nicky Hayden and why was it on a Wednesday in front of 300 spectators ?
ron, do not discount the pace and danger of motorcycle racing at the amature level. the comparison would be that of our u.s. wera and ccs sanctions...fast guys in both series!!! six seconds off the pace of the world superbike guys is still very quick and his abilities should not be marginalized!! pcb
6 secs off the pace of the professionals is a country mile behind. I am pretty sure Michael is viewing this as a fun outing and not a start of a new career.
I'm sure if he was given the amount of bike time that the pros get, he could bring it within a second or two. Still 6 seconds per lap separate a Ferrari F1 car and last years Super Aguri.
Ron, don't get baited into this again. With no disrespect to Ted, but the truth is that Ted has made up his mind about his opinion on M. Schumacher long ago for one reason or another, and you are only wasting your time and energy talking about this with him. Fact is that MS has decided to retire from F1 racing and none of us will ever really know why. Most F1 and more importantly, Ferrari fans has accepted his decision and his statement about his retirement at face value, but it is only natural that some will never accept it and choses to believe something else instead. Who knows, maybe Ted is right or maybe he is wrong. One thing is for certain, you are not going to change his opinion and view about Michael Schumacher. Anyway, I agree with you that testing a F1 car and bike racing for fun is not even close to being an active F1 racecar driver. Not that they don't present any type of danger, but heck, anyone of us risk getting hurt just by waking up in the morning and driving to work. Michael Schumacher is retired from F1, not retired from life or living, and he is entitled to have a little fun doing what he likes. IMO, racing is in his blood, regardless if it is a Go-Kart race or slot-car race or on X-Box. Just look at the short lived GP Masters series, did any of those drivers loose their desire to compete and win ? they are all still as cut-throat on the track as ever. Had Senna been alive today, I doubt very much that he would give up on any sort of motorsport all together even know that he has retired from F1 (I know, Senna fans will like to think that he can race until he is 150 years old had Imola'94 never happend). I remember reading a tale about the great Juan Fangio. He was picked up at the airport on his way to attend MB's 100 year anniversary, his driver was taking it easy on the Autobahn thinking Fangio may not like going too fast in a car due to his age ( I think he was in his 80's ). When they made a stop for some reason, Fangio asked respectfully to see if he can drive. Needless to say, the driver was happy to comply. As it turns out, Fangio gave him the ride of his life as it would have appeared that the late-great-Juan Fangio had lost none of his appreciation for autombiles or speed.
Mate, I cannot disagree with your view of F1 being more dangerous than amature racing more. Lets evaluate; F1 racing has: 1. One of the world's best doctors in the course car following the start lap. Amature racing does NOT do this at all. 2. World class medical centre at the track. Amature racing does NOT have this at all. NZ and Australia legal requirements is simply an ambulance. 3. Top class flag marchals on every point. Amature racing has whoever they can get, many don't even no the rules of racing ... and yes I have flagged many times, so this is fact. 4. Probably the safest car in any racing series. Most racing series don't mandate crash tests, etc. 5. All drivers have a super license and have many years of experience so know what they are doing. Amature racing involves first timers many times, people of varying competitive levels (ie. I raced against some guys who simply liked to be involved and really only pushed their cars to maybe 50% ... thus you would end up lapping these guys in a couple of laps at massive speed differientials, ie. maybe 50+ mph faster). 6. World class driver safety gear ... motorcycle racing involves a helmet and a suit ... nothing else. Top level bike races usually have padded linings on the track walls, but amature stuff doesn't because they cannot afford the cost. Thus sorry mate F1 is super safe, even compared to professional saloon car racing. In the last 2 seasons of V8 Supercar racing in Australia we have lost 2 drivers ... Only MS and his family know why he retired, and maybe one of the reasons was the risks involved, but he is still taking massive risks by entering these events. IMO larger risks ... but like many guys he needs to have the rush every now and then ... I say good on him, but I do hope he is careful. Pete
I agree with Psk, F1 is among the safest motor sports in the world. You have to figure that if there was a serious crash, the driver could be in an emergency room in less than 10 minutes. F1 also hasn't had anyone die in 14 years, no other racing series has a record like that. F1 is only getting safer, I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't another fatality for another 100 years.