Stoner undergoing tests in US to solve mystery bug
Added on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Stoner undergoing tests in US to solve mystery bug
Casey Stoner remained in the USA yesterday to undergo tests on the mystery illness that has plagued him for the past three rounds.
The 2007 world champion was visibly drained following his third place finish in Barcelona three weeks ago and despite reportedly recovering ahead of the following round in Assen, the illness apparently resurfaced to hamper his progress in the Dutch Grand Prix.
And the Ducati camp reported once again this weekend that the Australian was not 100% fit with a problem that, as of yet, nobody has managed to get to the bottom of.
Stoner remained in the US following Sunday’s Grand Prix at Laguna Seca to undergo medical tests in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the fitness problems that brought his championship challenge to a premature end last year.
“It has been a weekend to forget,” he said. “I can’t be happy with fourth place, even if it has limited the damage to my championship chances.
“I didn’t feel as bad at the end of the race as I have done in the last two, but I’m still not right. I found it really difficult to keep my concentration over the last few laps and I was in a bit of a daze by the end.
“My left arm was feeling really tired by the end because of the fact there are so many left-handers here, and my left wrist still doesn’t have the full range of movement after my operation in the winter.
“I’m really disappointed because without all of these problems, we could have done so much better.
“I want to thank the team for giving me a great bike and also Dr Claudio Macchiagodena and our physiotherapist Freddie (Dente) for all their help.
“Now we’ll focus on trying to find out the root of the problem because racing in this condition is not much fun.”
