… and this time he didn’t crash!

Serial motorbike crasher Michael Schumacher was inexplicably entrusted with a Honda Fireblade and an empty Magny-Cours track yesterday. The Hannspree Ten Kate team let Schumi loose for a day of testing on Carlos Checa’s World Superbike Championship bike.

“Riding the world superbike has been a step up for me and it’s a lot more difficult,” said Schumacher. “My target for the test was to enjoy it, but at the same time to learn. I think with more time things could have been even better because the team have a lot of possibilities, and there are a wide range of changes to make. Perhaps may be in the future we can do something together and I can increase my experience.”

Much to Grid Crasher’s surprise, Schumi did not wipe out on this occasion. It is probably just as well or he would have had team manger Ronald ten Kate to answer to. “I’m always a little nervous letting someone ride our bikes before the end of the season, but with Michael, I was happy to make an exception,” ten Kate said. “He’s proved to be more than capable of handling the power of our CBR1000RR and he’s really a very good rider.”