By GMM

Wild rumours are doing the rounds that Michael Schumacher could be set to make a racing return, on the saddle of a MotoGP bike.

The French sports newspaper L'Équipe seemingly began the speculation by publishing an article raising the possibility of the 39-year-old German, who retired as a seven-time world champion in 2006, making a wild-card entry for the Mugello event this year.

Schumacher has twice tested for the Italian motorcycle marque Ducati, impressing with his pace. It is also reported that the former Ferrari racer may have tested again at France's Circuit de Bresse.

L'Équipe also claimed that someone from Schumacher's entourage recently visited the headquarters of MotoGP's governing body to arrange the documentation for a one-off race entry.

In the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday, however, MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta, and Ducati chief Livio Suppo, dismissed the stories.