Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycles, Celebrities
Rumormill: Schumacher to race in MotoGP?
We enjoyed the 2007 Formula One season, down, as it came, to the last race in a three-way heat with the third-place driver ultimately taking the title. But part of us misses Michael Schumacher, even if his five consecutive back-to-back world titles cast a heavy and at times monotonous shadow over the sport. That's why we love bringing you stories about what Schumi's been up to since his retirement, and there's been plenty to report.
Now, after driving taxicabs, launching his own karting team, rejecting offers to head up Scuderia Ferrari, and fighting for victory at the Race of Champions, the latest rumors suggest that Schumacher could try his hand at motorcycle racing. The reports originate from French sports newspaper L'Equipe, which cites the world champion's previous two tests for Ducati (title-sponsored, like Ferrari, by Marlboro) and reports of Schumacher's reps visiting the MotoGP headquarters as evidence that Michael is planning on entering this year's two-wheel race at Mugello – which, incidentally, is owned by Ferrari. The heads of both MotoGP and Ducati have dismissed the reports, but the prospect of Schumacher dueling with the likes of Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi on their own terms has us wondering "what if?"
[Source: F1-Live, Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 11:28AM (2/18/2008)
I hope he likes losing. There's a lot to learn about motorcycle racing, and it won't come quickly.
I think the rumor is bogus anyway. I would have to imagine he'd race at a lower level than MotoGP first. When Michael Jordan decided to try to play baseball, he didn't just go straight to the majors.
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Kevin White 11:37AM (2/18/2008)
Yup, the rumor mill can crank out some doozies but this one is ridiculous.
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info 11:53AM (2/18/2008)
What's next from the rumor mill, Schumacher driving for NASCAR?
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Toppi 12:01PM (2/18/2008)
Or like his little brother: Driving in the DTM for Merc.
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Schneegz 12:05PM (2/18/2008)
Schumacher driving for NASCAR would make more sense than competing in Moto GP. As talented as he is, I'm sure he could've been a Moto GP contender if he'd started racing motorcycles around the same time Rossi did, which was around 5 years old. Even if he'd started racing motorcycles in his teens he'd have had a chance, but now? No way, and he's smart enough to know it.
This is rumor is pure fantasy.
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Greg 1:03PM (2/19/2008)
Dude Rossi won his first world championship in the 125cc class eleven years ago, and he didn't win the first race he ran. He started competing in 1991.
Schneegz 4:42PM (2/20/2008)
Right, which supports my point: Schumacher would've had to have started racing motorcycles at a ver young age to be even remotely competitive in Moto GP, and he's smart enough to know it, so there's no way he'll attempt to compete in Moto GP now that he's retired from F1.
yoyo 12:06PM (2/18/2008)
Not as crazy as some would have you believe, during a test he was only a few seconds off of the lap record. Granted that was one lap, hard to do for 15+ laps. Plus his age, he probably wouldn't want to get injured. I wouldn't be too surprised if got in one race just to feel it out.
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MikeInNC 1:36PM (2/18/2008)
Total rumor. I can't imagine him doing something like this.
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John 1:52PM (2/18/2008)
Sure Schumacher is perhaps the world's greatest race driver but MotoGP bikes are a whole other animal. If it happens, I predict total failure just like Michael Jordan playing baseball.
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gary 2:06PM (2/18/2008)
He's a very talented driver, but he's also more than a little over the hill to take up MotoGP racing.
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info 4:20PM (2/18/2008)
That is no rumor anymore. Auto Moror und Sport reported today that Mecedes signed him for a one year contract.
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Mike 5:58PM (2/18/2008)
"consecutive back-to-back world titles"? That seems a little repetitively redundant, no?
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davewin 6:06PM (2/18/2008)
Not gonna happen. He's just out having some fun and doing some PR work for his sponsors.
If Schumi was going to risk injury and compete again, why would he not go back to F1? Or Le Mans? Motorcycle racing is not in the cards.
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RLQ 1:58AM (2/19/2008)
LOL
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Tom 6:01AM (2/19/2008)
He could buy the Illmor machines and build his own team If anyone could affordit he could.
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Andy 12:43PM (5/18/2008)
Sounds like BS to me !
Ride On,
Andy
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