Bernie Ecclestone has welcomed reports that Michael Schumacher turned down a recent opportunity to make a full-time return to racing.

Schumacher, formula one's retired seven time world champion, contested races of the German Superbike championship in 2008, and was offered a full ride in motorcycling's Superbike world championship by Honda for this year.

"If he wants to, there is a way for him (to do it). All he has to do is ask us," Honda Racing's Carlo Fiorani was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport in November.

Schumacher, however, who turns 40 on Saturday, turned down the offer. "I'm discounting any chance of an appearance in WSB.

"Maybe I'll go to watch. But that's all. I'm not going to race," the German said.

Ecclestone, F1's chief executive, welcomed the news.

"It's good news that Michael has ruled out a ride in WSB -- he wouldn't be able to race or ride round just for show, he'd have to give it a real go and that could be dangerous," the 78-year-old told Gulf News.

Source: GMM