When Ducati MotoGP test rider Vittoriano Guareschi suffered a minor injury during testing at Mugello, former seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was called up to take his place on Thursday - but🌼 once again denied any racing ambitions.

Guareschi hit the ground during the sﷺecond day of a three-day Ducati C𓆏orse Development Team test and, although not seriously injured, a bad knock to his coccyx meant the Italian was unable to continue.

That led to Ducati offering Schumacher the chance to make his third appea💃rance on a Desmosedici grand prix machine - and the G🏅erman, who finished fourth during his 'official' motorcycle race debut, during a KTM Trophy round at Misano last Sunday, 'did not hesitate for a second'.

Despite 'difficult' weather conditions, Schumacher comple๊ted 42 laps on the 800cc GP8, with a best lap tim𒀰e 'in 1min 58.0secs'.

The fastest ra♓ce🌞 laps during the 2007 Italian Grand Prix ranged from a 1min 50.357secs, set by Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, to a 1min 53.735secs, set by Kurtis Roberts on the KR212V.

"It was a nice surprise yesterday when I received the sudden offer to come to Mugello today," Michael said. "And despite the difficult weather conditions it ▨was again big fun to ride the Duc🎉ati. But I repeat it very clearly that I have no intention at all to step into any kind of MotoGP competitions."

Schumacher impressed the two-wheeled world by lapping within five seconds of t𒈔he lap record during post-race testing at Valencia last November, having made his 'MotoGP debut' - on the 990cc version of the Desmosedici - during a test at Mugello in October of 2005.

On that occasion 🦹Schumacher, then still racing for Ferrari, was reported to have circulated 16 seconds off MotoGP pace, illustrating his impressive rate of progress since.