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[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Michael Schumacher's manager has played down speculation the 40-year-old might stumble at the fitness hurdle prior to making his sensational return to Formula One later this month.

The German's official spokeswoman this week slammed the brakes on the comeback euphoria by warning that the seven time world champion still needs to pass medical and fitness checks before his Valencia participation is confirmed.

Sabine Kehm told German television ZDF: "It is not quite certain yet that his neck will hold and the comeback can be started."

But according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, Schumacher's manager Willi Weber is already well-advanced in preparations for Valencia, including arranging for memorabilia and merchandise that celebrates his return to F1 after a nearly three-year absence.

"It is pure speculation to say that Michael will not drive in Valencia,” Weber said. “We are making all preparations for the fact that he will be there."

Schumacher on Thursday completed a second consecutive day of karting at the Italian circuit in Lonato.

"Arms, upper body, shoulders, neck - an excellent practice indeed," he told his official website. "In the next days I will keep practicing at home."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

It sounds as though Schumacher's muscles and neck are getting a lot better. He will definitely be ready for the European Grand Prix.

[Gilles 27]

good news!!!

[scotty]

Lauda: Schumacher regretted quitting F1

By Pablo Elizalde Friday, August 7th 2009, 10:27 GMT

Former world champion Niki Lauda believes Michael Schumacher regretted retiring from Formula 1 racing at the end of the 2006 season.

The seven-time champion is coming back to F1 racing at this month's European Grand Prix, where he will replace the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari.

Schumacher has been working hard to prepare for the race, as he faces the challenge of driving the F60 car for the first time on a track he has never been to.

It will not be the first time Schumacher races since he retired, however, as the German has competed in Superbike events occasionally.

Lauda reckons Schumacher still has the competition bug, and he says the most successful F1 driver regretted quitting the sport.

"He was never able to detox himself of the racing bug, as we have seen with his on-track motorcycle activities. In my opinion he retired at the end of the 2006 season because he couldn't see a real challenge - and probably he regretted his decision," Lauda told the official Formula 1 website.

"Now he's got the unique chance to step in for the injured Massa to help his former team, and to find out for himself how competitive he still is. This is something that would also interest me, because this hunger for competition - for the adrenalin rush - never dies. It's in our DNA.

"And the situation as it is now at Ferrari, with a recovering Massa and an available cockpit, gives him the chance to explore how far he's off the top. That is a question that always puzzles a top driver like he was."

Lauda, who also made a sensational comeback from retirement in the 1980s, reckons Schumacher is treating his return as an experiment.

"I actually won the second race back after my retirement, but Michael is not racing for any championship. I came back because I wanted to win, if my comeback was successful. For Michael it's nothing more than an interesting experiment."

And the Austrian doesn't believe Schumacher will have any fitness problems despite concerns about his neck.

"Forget about the age," said Lauda. "He is fit, he's undergoing rigorous training and mentally he is taking up the challenge. He will do everything possible to be fit as a fiddle in Valencia.

"True, there are some obstacles that he has to overcome, like his unfamiliarity with the track and that he's had no chance to test this year's car, but that's part of his challenge and that's why he's doing it. And that's why the whole world will be watching."

[headless]

Go away Lauda!!He should make a comeback.
Now that would be special.

[vaptin]

dammit will Lauda shut up, he didn't even say anything interesting or new, just tired to turn it about his wonderful comeback

[darwin dali]

haha at first I thought the kart was levitating

Michael Copperfield

[racechick]

I like Montoya's take on it

"Will he do a lot more than the current Ferrari drivers are doing? Id be suprised, but you never know. I'm sure that they are going to make sure they come up with something new for his arrival to make sure he looks good"

Spot on Id say Juan

[bud]

abit Harsh by Montoya

[racechick]

abit Harsh by Montoya

Nah! he knows his style.

[deMuRe]

Well I didn't read the last 42 pages, but as you can all imagine I did a little dance when I heard this news.

It will be nice to see one of the sports greats back behind the wheel and matching himself against all the young blood. I think Schumi will do quite well, might even win a race or two when he's settled.

MICHAEL IS BACK!!!

[Gaz]

Well I didn't read the last 42 pages, but as you can all imagine I did a little dance when I heard this news.

It will be nice to see one of the sports greats back behind the wheel and matching himself against all the young blood. I think Schumi will do quite well, might even win a race or two when he's settled.

MICHAEL IS BACK!!!

At least you have accepted he's prob not going to beat the Newer Drivers.

[bud]

Well I didn't read the last 42 pages, but as you can all imagine I did a little dance when I heard this news.

It will be nice to see one of the sports greats back behind the wheel and matching himself against all the young blood. I think Schumi will do quite well, might even win a race or two when he's settled.

MICHAEL IS BACK!!!

deMuRe IS BACK!!!

[billindenver]

abit Harsh by Montoya

Akin to the michelin man making a comment about Jesus Christ's hair style. He isn't qualified to wash Schumachers Jock, but that doesn't keep him from opening his mouth. Since I never really liked either one of them, I'm hoping it turns into a cat fight per se....but in reality, Michael will be welcomed back to F1 with open arms...while JPM couldn't buy his way back with a sack full of cash and a complete personality change.

[racechick]

abit Harsh by Montoya

Akin to the michelin man making a comment about Jesus Christ's hair style. He isn't qualified to wash Schumachers Jock, but that doesn't keep him from opening his mouth. Since I never really liked either one of them, I'm hoping it turns into a cat fight per se....but in reality, Michael will be welcomed back to F1 with open arms...while JPM couldn't buy his way back with a sack full of cash and a complete personality change.

"Not qualified to wash Schumachers Jock"

A reminder my friend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ESvVM2P9w&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS1IJuXAnIQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giZu7-A2yS0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79hVRB2_Y8g&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ESvVM2P9w&NR=1&feature=fvwp

And further to 'jock cleaning'. Montoya would be singularly unimpressed with the role whatever your perceived notion of his qualifications for the task. Why dont you suggest it to him? The eloquence of the response you will get will be unfit for your tender ears.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Schumacher to test F2007 again

By Jonathan Noble Monday, August 10th 2009, 11:02 GMT

Michael Schumacher is to borrow an F2007 from Ferrari's historic Clienti department once again so he can conduct a two-day test at Mugello from tomorrow ahead of his F1 comeback.

With Ferrari's request for a testing exemption to allow Schumacher to drive an F60 having been rejected by Williams, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, Schumacher has taken matters into his own hands and decided to get some more F1 experience himself.

Having already conducted one day in the F2007, loaned by the F1 Clienti historic cars division, last month, Schumacher has requested the loan of the car once again so he can conduct two more days of running, on the GP2-spec tyres that the historic cars normally run on. His test will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

AUTOSPORT understands that Schumacher is paying for the test himself, which will be overseen by members of the Clienti department and not involve Ferrari F1 team members.

Since confirming he will be making an F1 return, Schumacher has been pushing himself hard to get back to race fitness. He spent time testing karts at Lonato and has been working on his strength and endurance.

Schumacher's progress is being overseen by doctors, who are keeping a close eye on his condition and have been conducting a series of medical tests to ensure he is ready for an F1 return in Valencia.

Schumacher paying for it himself!