World Superbike News

The now retired seven time Formula 1 world champion, Michael Shumacher, who has found time to take part in a number of races in the German Superbike series while continuing his role with the Ferrari team, has allegedly been offered a place in next seasons World Superbike series, by the Honda team according to World Superbike news reports.

Schumacher has raced for the Honda team in German Superbike ( For IDM) races this year and in September tried out the World Superbike HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade of Carlos Checa at the French circuit of Magny-Cours. Schumacher said after that test :

“It was interesting to see how a professional superbike team works. It was difficult to understand the machinery fully with such a short amount of time but it was a great experience. It was also good to be a team-mate with Carlos who I have known for a number of years. I would like to thank Mr ten Kate for giving me the opportunity to try things out.”

The F1 legend has more recently tested with Ducati in Portugal where he was said to have recorded some fast times. In last Fridays La Gazzeta dello Sport, Honda Racing’s Carlo Fiorani was quoted as saying of Shumacher, “Michael is convinced that the German championship is for him at the moment. At the moment he has not asked us to race in the 2009 world championship. But if he wants to, there is a way for him. All he has to do is ask us.”

Schumacher said earlier this year that he had no intention of making a career from bike racing and insisted that it was ‘just a hobby.’ One thing for sure is that if Honda can coax the former F1 man into the WSB championship, it will be a real coup for the sport. It is certain to attract the interest of formula one fans and boost tv coverage and earnings for the sport, possibly further increasing the popularity of the sport and maybe elevating it towards  MotoGP status in terms of fans. How exciting it would be to see Shumachers name in the World Superbike results next season.