Schumacher, McGuiness battle for glory

The special track day organised by Monster Energy in collaboration with the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France featured seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, 19-time TT winner John McGuinness, former MotoGP rider Randy Mamola, Moto 2 rider Pol Espargaro and endurance racer Keith Flint.

McGuinnes who raced against Schumacher for the first time, said, “Riding with Michael was so good. What he’s achieved on four wheels makes him the godfather of motorsport. I wasn’t expecting him to be anything less, but he’s fast! You can see his enthusiasm for motorcycles and it was a massive pleasure to spend the day with him.”

Schumacher returned the compliment, saying, “Coming here today I felt so proud to be able to turn my hand at riding a bike with guys I really admire. I can’t begin to explain how much fun it was to ride the track with the likes of John, Randy, Keith and watching Pol Espargaro’s huge talent.”

Keith Flint said, “Today I was truly able to use the word legend to describe the company I was keeping; both from four and two wheels. As I pulled out of the pit lane I mentally pinched myself as I followed out Randy Mamola, Michael Schumacher and a true gladiator in John McGuinness. That Espargaro kid is a bit of a handful too, isn’t he?”