Schumacher impresses in race appearance

By John Hopkins

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher finished third in a motorcycle race at the Pannonia-Ring in Hungary last Thursday.

According to a report on http://www.autosport.com/, the 39-year-old German started from the back of the 27-bike field on his Holzhauer Racing Promotion Honda CBR1000RR but climbed through to finish behind defending IDM German champion Martin Bauer and former World Superbike competitor Andreas Meklau.

Schumacher's fastest lap was reportedly six seconds off the pace of Bauer and Meklau, but over half a second quicker than the rest of his rivals, the majority of whome were described in the autosport.com article as "enthusiastic amateurs."

Schumacher had actually set the fastest qualifying time, although the IDM Pros were running without transponders on their bikes and were forced to start from the back of the grid. Schumacher elected to join them on the last row.

The German ace made waves last November with his impressive pace on a Ducati MotoGP bike in post-season tests at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain.