McGuinness on track with Schumacher

Nineteen-time TT winner John McGuinness took to the track for a special Monster Energy track day last week, joining seven times Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher, who raced in the German Superbike Championship following his first retirement from Forumla One, is no slouch on a bike, running in top ten places in the championship back in 2008.

His second retirement from Formula One will hopefully see the German star back on two wheels more often.

McGuinness and Schumacher were joined by former GP winner Randy Mamola, Prodigy frontman Keith Flint, and rising talent Pol Espargaro.

McGuinness, who recently re-signed for the Honda TT Leneds team for 2013, said “Riding with Michael was so good. What he’s achieved on four wheels makes him the Godfather of motorsport.”

“I wasn’t expecting him to be anything less, but he’s fast! You can see his enthusiasm for motorcycles and it was a massive pleasure to spend the day with him.”

Schumacher, who retired from Formula One after a two-season comeback, said “Coming here today I felt so proud to be able to turn my hand at riding a bike with guys I really admire.”

“I can’t begin to explain how much fun it was to ride the track with the likes of John, Randy, Keith and watching Pol Espargaro’s huge talent.”

Keith Flint has became a racing regular in recent years, attending the TT and competing in the Hottrax British Endurance series.

He said “Today I was truly able to use the word ‘legend’ to describe the company I was keeping; both from four and two wheels.”

“As I pulled out of the pit lane I mentally pinched myself as I followed out Randy Mamola, Michael Schumacher and a true gladiator in John McGuinness.”

“That Espargaro kid is a bit of a handful too isn’t he?”