Honda has said it is ready to offer retired seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher a ride in the 2009 World Superbikes championship.
Schumacher 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."
While Schumacher is changing to two wheels, 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.
Rossi told La Gazetta dello Sport: "Yes, I like rallies very much and 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 during a world Superbike test at Parkalgar in Portugal, 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."
