Honda offer Michael Schumacher WSB ride

Reports have emerged that Honda Racing would allow former F1 multiple world champion Michael Schumacher a ride in World Superbikes in 2009.

Honda Racing’s Carlo Fiorani told Italy’s Gazzetto dello Sport: “Michael believes the German championship is right for him at the moment, but if he wants to race in the 2009 world championship, there is a way. All he has to do is ask us.”

The retired car racer has made a big impression on the bike world since he bowed out of Formula 1 in 2006 – the German has stepped up from minor club races to successful appearances in the German superbike championship with the top Holzhauer Racing team.

He also rode Casey Stoner’s championship winning MotoGP bike at end of 2007, and took part in recent WSB pre-season tests riding a selection of WSB bikes as well as his own race Fireblade. He has even tested BMW’s S1000RR prototype at a recent closed-doors test at Albacete.