'I've had zero pre-season and I'm worried about my fitness!' says Bale despite being clocked sprinting almost 25mph... that's nearly as fast as Bolt's world record!

PUBLISHED: 09:56 EST, 18 September 2013 | UPDATED: 11:26 EST, 18 September 2013

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Gareth Bale has been caught speeding in Madrid by Spanish TV channel La Sexta. Despite insisting he's had no pre-season and being worried about his fitness, Bale was clocked sprinting at 40kmph in last Sunday’s draw with Villarreal - almost 25 mph just 2 mph behind Usain Bolt at world record speed.

Bale’s best burst of pace came on the hour in that 1-1 draw against Villarreal when he made a 20m dash down the right-hand side of Madrid’s attack before pulling the ball back from the byline and crashing into the advertising hoardings at the Madrigal stadium.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Bale training for Real with team-mates Ronaldo and Modric

Fitness first: Bale is playing catch-up with his fitness after a summer disrupted by his move to Madrid

Swing when you're winning: The world record signing is yet to lose in a Madrid shirt

This all comes despite Bale revealing concerns over his fitness and admitted he has had 'zero pre-season' training to prepare for his first Spanish campaign.

Despite making an instinct impact at the Bernabeu, Bale had to wait an hour to make his Champions League debut for Madrid’s dream team but wasted no time in teeing up Cristiano Ronaldo as Galatasaray were thrashed in Istanbul.

Ronaldo, who went on to bag a hat-trick, scored twice in three minutes, either side of Bale — Real’s £86million world record signing — replacing Isco for the final 26 minutes.

@GarethBale11

On Wednesday afternoon Bale posted on Twitter and said; 'Great to be back in the Champions League last night with a win. It was important to get off to a good start.'

But speaking to the Spanish press after his cameo, Bale said: 'It was great to be back in the Champions League. It has been two or three years now. It is great to get out on the pitch and get some game time.

'It was good to make an immediate contribution with the free kick. I think I was involved in all the last three goals which was delightful. So it was just great to get back on the pitch and get some game time under my belt.

'I am not too sure about my fitness to be honest. It is all about building up my game time gradually. have had zero pre-season which doesn't help. I have had no game time over the summer. It is all about getting game time under my belt and getting my fitness up as quick as I can.'

The moment Ronaldo puts reducer on Bale's ankle...

The best: Bolt celebrates winning the gold medal in the Men's 200m final at the World Championships

Ahead: Bolt holds the world record for 100m with 9.58 seconds

Settling in: Bale took to instagram to post a phot of his 'new home', Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium

Sitting out: Bale, who admitted he had fitness concerns, had to watch most of the match from the bench

The Welsh winger had a stressful summer as Tottenham's Daniel Levy did everything he could to delay the move and keep his star asset at the north London club for another season.

Ultimately his dream move went through but it certainly disrupted Bale's preparation for arguably the most important season of his career.

Galactico on the charge: Gareth Bale controls the ball during the Champions League victory over Galatasaray

All smiles: Cristiano Ronaldo shares a laugh after his hat-trick with Bale

All smiles: Cristiano Ronaldo shares a laugh after his hat-trick with new team-mate Bale

'It is never easy coming on as a late sub. To make my Champions League debut for Real Madrid was a big thing for me. And it was just great to get some game time and get my fitness up.

'I think everyone knows that we are going to be there or thereabouts. For us, it was important to get off to a good start and show what we can do. And we can score goals.

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25 mph??!! Bale's wasted playing football. Should be in Team GB's sprint team. - Pundito, Derby, 18/09/2013 16:21 Please explain how he is 'wasted' playing football? I think I speak for the majority when I say football has a far greater following and value in sporting fan's lives than athletics does. I would never say playing for one of the biggest clubs in football is a 'waste' of a career.

- Tom , Manchester, 19/9/2013 00:30

Click to rate Rating 9

¨Bale has been clocked by TV channel La Sexta¨.......yeah, ok. I wouldn't believe a single word that they say.

- Rob , Barcelona, 19/9/2013 00:22

Click to rate Rating 1

grazed his knees for sucking ronaldos strudel

- Niel , scotland, United Kingdom, 19/9/2013 00:20

Click to rate Rating 1

Winston Reid clocked at 25.4 mph that's even closer to bolt! Give him a headline!

- somone , somewhere, 19/9/2013 00:08

Click to rate Rating 1

He shouldn't worry about playing 90 minutes - he'll spend half of that on the floor!

- Brun , Woolley, 18/9/2013 23:47

Click to rate Rating 4

Bolt would leave him standing, he is quick, not sprinter quick.

- Steve , England, 18/9/2013 22:41

Click to rate Rating 7

Hey Gareth, here's a thought; perhaps if you didn't go on strike after recovering from injury you would have had some pre-season training under your belt!

- JayC , Midlands, United Kingdom, 18/9/2013 22:36

Click to rate Rating 4

The negativity towards bale is hilarious, is it because he is welsh or because he looks like muttley. Rooney is no oil painting and who cares anyway. The jealousy is quite pitiful.

- Owen Ola , Ogmore, Wales, 18/9/2013 22:27

Click to rate Rating 8

How many times will the same 'Ronaldo putting a reducer on Bale' video be attached to a story this week?

- McGruff , London, United Kingdom, 18/9/2013 22:08

Click to rate Rating 17

Getting his excuses in early lol

- Alfred , EUSSR, United Kingdom, 18/9/2013 20:46

Click to rate Rating 901

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