Schumacher's family: Seven-time F1 champ "will not give up" - MotorSportsTalk

Michael Schumacher’s family has issued another statement of thanks for the support that they’ve received from fans around the world. However, the statement did not reveal any new information on the Formula One legend’s health.

Last Friday, Schumacher’s press officer, Sabine Kehm, said that he remained in a medically-induced coma but was in stable condition – the first time that he had not been listed as “critical” since his skiing accident on Dec. 29.

The new statement from the family reads:

“We are deeply touched by all the messages to get well soon for Michael which still are being sent. That gives us strength. Thank you all so much! Thank you to the Fanclub in Kerpen, to 1. FC Köln and Schalke 04 but also to everybody else and other fan groups who are supporting Michael. We all know, he is a fighter and will not give up!”

Said statement references a pair of German soccer clubs that recently unveiled a banner before a friendly with the phrase “Get well soon! You can do it, Michael!” in German.

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

Schumacher’s family: Seven-time F1 champ “will not give up”

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

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