Seedorf hits the skids

By Massimo Gonnella & Jim Wirth

Most Serie A stars will have enjoyed a well-earned summer break, but AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has yet to take any time off having stepped straight off the pitch and into his role as manager of his own motorcycle racing team.

Racing team
The Dutch international is in charge of Seedorf Racing, who are competing in the 125cc world championship. The team's top riders, Spaniards Álvaro Bautista and Héctor Barberá, are both making waves in the motorbike world.

High rankings
Bautista is eleventh in the standings with 60 points after nine races, while teenager Barberá, who has won major races in Catalonia and Rio de Janeiro, is ranked third in his class with 129 points, 34 behind the leader, Andrea Dovizioso.

Trackside success
Seedorf is duly basking in his team's glory - and admitted that success at the racing track provides a welcome relief from the pressure of life on the football field. "When I enter the paddock I stop being a footballer and become a manager," he explained. "Like in football, winning gives me a lot of satisfaction."

Financial responsibility
The 28-year-old described his main role at Seedorf Racing as "taking care of the financial aspects and dealing with sponsorship". And since the team began to compete in 2003, he has seen his pet project take wing and fly.

Improving prospects
"Things are starting to get better," he said. "In the first year I had to make a lot of investments, this year virtually nothing. We are doing a good job and have won a lot of credibility. This is why we are starting to receive some support. People have understood that we are planning for the longer term."

Brazilian injection
One of the keys to making Seedorf Racing an attractive proposition for sponsors is the high profile of its manager, and the player has ensured a few more column inches for Seedorf Racing by bringing Real Madrid CF's Brazilian international Roberto Carlos into the organisation.

Fellow spectators
"We often watched races together when I was at Madrid, so that is why I asked if he would like to join me," Seedorf said. "He will not make any investment, but he will help us find other sponsors."

Exhibition match
The wing-back was on hand to greet the riders at the race in Rio and as a publicity stunt, participated in an exhibition match which pitted a Seedorf Racing side against a team of journalists, broadcasters and other media professionals.

Famous friends
Rider Barberá scored twice in a 12-9 victory for Seedorf, while Roberto Carlos struck a hat-trick for a team that also included former RC Deportivo La Coruña favourite Djalminha, ex-Club Atlético de Madrid midfielder Emerson and Albacete Balompié's Cacá.

Good sign
With Italian clubs keen to appoint former players in administrative roles, Seedorf's interest in the workings of the racing world certainly seem to augur well. As he said: "I like this job, so maybe in the future I could also become president of a football club. Why not?"