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Darren Ennis
Thu, Apr 03, 2008
Reuters
Schumacher rules out MotoGP challenge

BRUSSELS, April 3 (Reuters) - Retired Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has no plans to try and repeat his success on a motorbike despite finishing fourth in his first competitive race on two wheels.

The 39-year-old, whose seven titles and 91 grand prix wins make him Formula One's most successful driver, recorded the second fastest lap in the KTM minor series race at the Misano circuit on Italy's Adriatic coast last Sunday.

"I am not intending to be the new Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi," Schumacher told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday referring to two of MotoGP's top riders.

"I am not intending to take it up as a secondary career. If so, I should have taken it up 20 years before."

Schumacher, who has tested a Ducati MotoGP bike since retiring from Formula One at the end of 2006, rode a 990cc KTM Super Duke in the 10-lap KTM Trophy race. He finished third in Saturday's qualifying.

But the German said he was surprised by his success last weekend.

"I was very surprised since I didn't get into it until about six months ago and I haven't done that much driving, particularly on two wheels," Schumacher said on a visit to Brussels to launch a campaign to reduce drink-driving deaths around the world.

"But a bike is a completely different subject. Moving from two to four is not so difficult up to a certain point but the
hard work and danger starts after that."

(Editing by Trevor Huggins)

 

 
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