Grapevine: Fourth for Schumacher on bike debut

The seven-time Formula One world champion took part in a round of a one-make KTM series at the Italian circuit, on a 990cc Super Duke.

He qualified third and went on to finish fourth, five seconds behind the winner, but his best lap was just one tenth of a second slower than the fastest lap of the race.

"It was really fun," said Schumacher. "At the start I was a bit cautious but I also wasn't really good at it and fell back to 14th position. But to fight back through the field was great and the overtaking was just great too."

But the German, who remains an advisor and occasional test driver for Ferrari in Formula One, played down suggestions that he is considering a career on bikes.

"This is not the start of a second career, even if I do a race from time to time it doesn't mean anything other than I do it because I want to enjoy myself. I just enjoy motorbiking.

"I don't have any ambitions to step into any kind of racing series. I'm also not presumptuous enough to imagine I could step into a professional series. I want to try myself on two wheels but one thing is sure, I will strongly take care not to go over the top."