Still, 8 would stand for a long long time. I'm sure he don't need the money anymore. He could allways go back to LeMans and win there again.

One of the very best. Period. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to tell my children in the years to come that I watched him race.

Pretty much sums it up - he set records that will probably stand forever. Those who say he did it all in the best car - utter rubbish, he won races in his early years at Ferrari when the car was nowhere near competitive - even his first championship was achieved in a car that had nowhere near the horsepower of the Renault Williams. He may have been ruthless on track but so was Senna, it's what sets aside those with the true desire to win - Rossi is ruthless on track too don't forget.

Didn't see this weekend, but when he got up on the podium did he still jump for joy and have a beaming smile on his face? 90 wins and he's still excited and happy every time he gets up there? I don't call that soulless - for soulless, try the sour faces Raikkonen, now he's miserable, he really is a robot..

For soulless read PEDROSA.

read the bbc.co.uk section on him a fair assessment IMHO

Yes he's odd but he is also Finnish, I've met quite a few an it takes a certain kind of person to live where they do.
Let's be honest here, would you prefer to watch a rider like Loris openly showing his skill and abilities, no doubt he is trying and very entertaining.
Or the likes of Pedrosa, who are obviously going to be a major star and may challenge Rossi's records.
Sadly I put Michael in the Pedrosa camp, who cares about records.
When it's that moment of outrageous skill, bravery and simple honesty that Loris shows and makes the racing worth watching, Don't think you will see Loris take someone out just to win a championship like the he did when he took out Hill.
Yes he has one more title but at what cost, his reputation is clearly that of a cheating dirty no class fu**wit.

The statistics say he is the greatest world champion there has ever been, and he is!

He will not leave Ferrari but will become an ambassador for them in all matters and will probably go on to be a technical adviser as well as a tester and new driver trainer.

I`m just waiting a reply from Ferrari after I offered my services yesterday, in the light of Poosmackers retirement, but as yet have not heard anything back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's a talent, and won't be replaced for a long time - if ever. The Schumacher/Todt/Brawn combo will go down in history. They raised raised Ferrari from mid-pack to front runners in a very short space of time and stayed there for several years - a very difficult thing to do.

I hope he works with Ferrari on their road cars like Senna and the NSX.

I can't see how anyone could put Schuey in the Pedrosa camp - Pedrosa came into the top class this year, aged 20. Nearly wins the first race, 4th race of the season (I think) and he wins.. was he ecstatic on the podium? No, he's a real misery, barely even managed a smile. Michael on the other hand - 90 wins, and still absolutely over the moon to be up there... how can you compare?

As for your earlier comment about Senna, sure Senna was a fabulous talent as well, and but for that tragic day at Imola, would no doubt have won more titles, and Michael would have won less... but let's not get too misty-eyed, Senna was a ruthless driver as well, he had no hesitation in driving people off the road, he was the one (rather than Michael) who changed the way the game was played.

I class Pedrosa in the same camp as Michael, that automatic machine that you cannot stop.
Surely the whole idea of sport is to watch a competition, the years when Schuey walked away with it, as there was no challenge was really boring.
I was a fan for years then stopped because it became just too boring.
Prost/Senna, Hakkinen/Schuey, fantastic to watch complete opposites, intense and exciting.
I know he can only race what's put in front of him, but for me the whole idea is to watch some sort of duel, not history being made as Michaal walks to another championship, as no one has a package to challenge.
This year is the only time I've actually wanted him to win, simply because he has been the underdog and really wanted to see what he can do when he was pushed, I do hope he wins it.
Alonso would not have won last year if the Ferrari was not so cr*p.
I think the real sad part of Michaels era is he has had no real consistant challengers, therefore his victories look slightly hollow.