Motorcycling: Doohan may retire

THE WORLD 500cc champion Mick Doohan, badly injured in a crash at the Spanish Grand Prix in May, has hinted that he might retire from racing next year. "Unless I think I can win, I won't be getting back on the bike," the Australian said. "Unless I can be competitive I'm not interested."

He said his HRC Honda team had been pressing him for a commitment to race next season but they were still waiting for an answer. "Next year is in the balance. I'll see how I feel," he said.

Doohan's comeback is pencilled in for the Czech Grand Prix on 22 August. "If it's not at the Czech Grand Prix then it will be the next one [San Marino]," said Doohan, who underwent surgery to repair a broken right leg and shoulder and left wrist.

The five-times world 500cc champion, who hopes to begin testing in Valencia in Spain the week before the Czech race, added: "It's really hard to want to stop. You realise that at no other time in your life will you be in this situation. I don't want to retire just because I've reached the top."