MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, who was chasing a sixth consecutive 500cc world title when he suffered a career-ending accident during qualifying at Jerez in 1999, has revealed tha💝t he almost made a comeback several years later.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the 44-year-old Australian - who won all his titles for Honda -꧒ made the admission after watching seven time F1 champion Michael Schumacher complete the second race🎃 of his comeback.

The SMH reports that Doohan was contacted 'a few years' after his enforced retirement, by a 'satellite Honda t♊eam'.

"I told them to give me some time to think about it," Doohan is reported as saying. "I don't think it would have taken me long to get up to speed - I hadn't forgotten how♓ to ride a bike."

But he then added: "I was quite relieved🍬 when the te🌌am found someone, and I could then stop thinking about it."

Doohan is third, behind only༒ Giacomo Agosꦆtini (8) and Valentino Rossi (7), in terms of premier-class world titles, a position he also holds for premier-class race wins, thanks to his 54 victories.

However, Doohan still holds the all-time record for premier-clꦿass poles, with 58 to his credit compared with 48 for nearest r✃ival Rossi.