Schumacher set to return from holiday ready to resume title fight

By John Bagratuni Jun 19, 2006, 13:36 GMT

Hamburg - Michael Schumacher sent no postcards from his North American holiday but vowed on his website on Monday that he was far from giving up the Formula One world championship duel with Fernando Alonso.

'These fights and challenges are in my blood. You can't always win but there is nothing nicer than to be engaged in such a fight. It is pure inspiration,' said Schumacher.

'We have every reason to be confident,' the Ferrari star insisted ahead of the North American races in Canada and the United States.

Alonso and his Renault team have so far dominated the season, giving the Spaniard a massive 23-point lead over Schumacher after eight of 18 races.

The Spaniard has won the last three races from the pole position for a season total of five and came second in the three others. Schumacher has won two races and came second yet again behind Alonso at the last race in Britain on June 11.

Schumacher departed the same night for his traditional holiday with family and friends at an undisclosed North American location.

'Corinna (wife) and I love these little escapes. Like every year we have a lot of fun together. And like every year the desire to race again grows by the day. That's why I am looking forward to the next two weekends.'

The Canadian GP in Montreal on Sunday is the first one, a race that Schumacher has won seven times in the past.

Alonso, by contrast, failed to finish in the last two editions and has never made the podium there.

If he suffers the same fate again it will make the championship race more open. But then again, he is coming off his first career wins in Spain, Monaco and Britain and wants to continue this trend in Canada.

Schumacher will not go down again without a fight.

'Our car has fulfilled all expectations and we have continued to develop it,' he said.

'I don't want to make a precise prediction about the Montreal result. (But) we are ready and want a good result in Canada as well. I see no reason why we shouldn't achieve that,' he said.

Schumacher said he was happy to be racing in Canada again.

'It is always great to come to Montreal. The atmosphere will surely be terrific again. This is one of the races I really like - because of the country, the city and the people. You always feel welcome here,' he said.