Schumacher could join Superbikes

Schumacher raced in this year's German superbikes championship

Honda say they are ready to offer retired seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher a ride in the 2009 World Superbikes championship.

Schumacher, 39, has raced in German superbike races with Honda this year.

Honda Racing boss Carlo Fiorani told La Gazetta dello Sport: "Michael has not asked us to race in the worlds. But if he wants to, there is a way for him."

Meanwhile, MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi says he could switch to rallying when he finishes racing bikes.

The 29-year-old Italian, who won his eighth world motorcycling title this year, signed a two-year contract in July to continue riding for Yamaha in MotoGP and is competing in next month's Wales Rally GB as a driver.

606: DEBATE Should Schumacher try for the 2009 superbike championship?

"Yes, I like rallies very much," Rossi told La Gazetta dello Sport when asked if he saw his future in the sport. "I think it is possible when I finish with bikes.

"I have another two years, after that we will see."

Rossi has driven in a number of rallies in the past, including the Rally GB in 2002, when he crashed out.

Schumacher, who recorded fast times on a Ducati in tests in Portugal last week, has previously played down talk of him racing seriously on bikes.

Earlier this year, he said: "There will be no second career on motorbikes. This is just a hobby."

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Valentino Rossi has also been testing in a Ferrari F1 car