Michael Schumacher tests in Hungary

Seven times World Formula 1 Champion Michael Schumacher did a two-day test at the end of last week at the Pannoniaring in Hungary.

The 39-year-old German was a guest of the IDM (Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft) Superbike Champion, Austria’s Martin Bauer with the Holzhauer RPR Honda Team.

Schumacher astonished the experts by setting competitive times in testing despite the bad weather conditions. Although he has ridden Ducati’s MotoGP bike before, this was Schumacher’s first official Superbike ride and he rode Bauer’s spare bike.

Schumacher also took part in an amateurs’ race, in which he was the best of the 25 non-licensed riders on the track and he came home in third place behind Bauer and former SBK race winner Andy Meklau.

Michael Schumacher did his best lap during the race with 2m01.3s, lapping a few seconds a lap slower than the IDM riders. The cold temperatures and some snow half an hour before the start of the race did not allow for any better lap times.

Meklau’s lap record from last summer’s IDM race weekend is 1m54.7s.