Autoblog

Michael Schumacher made an auspicious motorcycle racing debut at the Misano track in Italy on Sunday. The race was the seven-time F1 champion's first professional competition on two wheels, following last week's amateur event in Hungary.

The short ten-lap event was run on 990cc KTM Super Duke motorbikes, on which Schumacher managed to qualify third and finish an impressive fourth, having dropped down to 14th and fought his way back up through the field. Schumacher was quick to assert, however, that this was a casual pursuit and not the start of a second career. Cautious reservations aside, we wouldn't be surprised to see the champ sporadically climb back onto various two-wheeled racing machines for the occasional race here or there.

[Source: Autosport, Photo by STR/AFP/Getty]

Remember those rumors that Michael Schumacher was gearing up to race motorcycles? Well, despite the initial denials, the retired seven-time F1 champion surprised crowds at the Pannonia-Ring in Hungary by showing up on the grid for a motorcycle race.

The paddock was filled largely by amateur riders, but Schumacher was joined in his appearance by IDM (German Superbike) champion Martin Bauer on 1000cc Honda Superbikes and fellow IDM rider Andy Meklau. On his motorbike racing debut, Schumacher took pole despite only running a few practice laps beforehand, but opted to start the race with the IDM pros who were handicapped with back-of-the-grid starting positions. That didn't stop the seasoned trio from dominating the event, however, as they filled the podium, Schumi coming in third. (Schumacher, however, shied away from the limelight by not attending the podium ceremony.) Although Schumi's lap times were six seconds slower than the IDM pair, he was some 0.6 seconds faster than the rest of the field. Not bad for his first race. Not too bad at all.

[Source: Autosport]

Rumors of Michael Schumacher racing on two wheels in the MotoGP series have been bouncing around like a Ferrari-red rubber ball. First came the initial speculation, coupled with denials from both MotoGP and Ducati, the team for whom the retired F1 champ was rumored to ride. The rumor-mill was set a-churnin' again, however, when Schumacher's longtime manager Willi Weber responded that "anything is possible".

The runaway speculation, however, has been emphatically put to rest as Schumacher himself has outright denied the possibility. "It is an absolute lie. At the most, I can race on a scooter." Well there you have it – case closed. Schumacher will compete next season in the International Vespa Championship. Or maybe he meant on a Ferrari Segway? (Yes, we are joking.)

[Source: F1-Live, Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty]