Schu tries two wheels

Michael Schumacher has demonstrated that he still has a taste for speed by embarking on a busy schedule of two-wheeled activities, while denying that he’s serious about a new career.

Schumacher has long been a fan of bikes, and would occasionally appear at European Grands Prix on a Harley Davidson. He has also regularly enjoyed touring holidays in the USA.

The seven times F1 World Champion took part in his first bike race in an obscure amateur event at Hungary’s Pannania-Ring on March 20. Riding a 1000cc Honda, he started at the back of the field and rose to third, beaten only by two experienced German riders who had joined him for the event.

Just 10 days later he appeared at Misano in Italy on a 990cc KTM in a slightly higher profile race devoted to the marque. He qualified third and slipped down the order at the start, but recovered to a respectable fourth place.

Four days after that Schumacher had a run on a works Ducati MotoGP machine in an official test at Mugello, and then had a low-speed crash on a Honda while testing at Lausitzring on April 14. Just two days later he went back to basics with Ferrari when he sampled Bridgestone’s latest F1 slick tyres at Barcelona…