Casey Stoner to Miss Next Next Three Races, Lose Hopes of Title

What Happens When the Mystery Illness Remains a Mystery

— According to multiple news and racing news sources, it has officially been announced that Casey Stoner will not race for Ducati at this weekend’s Brno round of the MotoGP World Championship, nor will he race in the following two races at Indianapolis and San Marino.  Stoner will be replaced at the factory team by Pramac Ducati rider Mika Kallio.  In an interesting turn of events for the World Superbike Championship, current third place points man Michel Fabrizio will transfer to the satellite team for these three races.  In doing so, he will miss the WorldSBK race at Nurburgring for the GP at Misano.  With his Ducati teammate Noriyuki Haga  injured, it leaves the championship fight against Yamaha rider Ben Spies in WorldSBK to Fabrizio.  He, however, is thankful for the gift of return to MotoGP. 

The cause of Stoner’s illness has been bandied about multiple continents since it began in Barcelona.  He finished third, but was visibly exhausted after the race.  He consulted doctors there, in the Netherlands when it occurred at Assen two weeks later, and particularly the doctors in the Sates after the Laguna Seca round to determine the cause and treatment.  The wet conditions in German and Britain for the next two races helped the condition, but the races still left Stoner weak and unable to finish well.  Still doctors found only “slight gastritis and mild anaemia” which did not seem to satisfy the young Australian nor legions of fans and commentators who suggested Epstein-Barr Virus and psychological problems.  It was hoped that the break between Donington Park and this weekend’s race in the Czech Republic would allow Stoner to recover at home with his personal doctors.  This withdrawl is the response. 

According to Stoner, “The doctors believe that during the Barcelona race I was suffering from a virus, and that I subsequently pushed my body too hard, leading to problems that have caused my fatigue since then. The doctors are continuing with many tests to try to understand these problems and make sure it does not happen again.”  Best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to full, championship-winning form.

Leave a comment

No comments yet.

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI