Ducati confirmed previous rumors today. Lead rider Casey Stoner, having suffered illness at the last five races, is pulling out of the next three races at Brno, Indianapolis, and Misano. After consulting with his long time Australian Doctors during the break following the Donington Park GP, Casey Stoner and team decided that the best option for recovery from his mystery illness was more time off.
The decision did not come lightly to the former World Champion, he’s currently 37 points shy of Championship leader Valentino Rossi, and 12 points down from runner up Jorge Lorenzo. At Donington Park, Stoner took a massive risk going out on wet tires in what turned out to be a dry race and came in at 14th place, being lapped by the race leaders before the halfway point.
“After five extremely difficult races due to my health, I returned to Australia to visit the sports doctors who have looked after me for many years” said Stoner “We have taken the difficult decision not to contest the next three rounds of the championship, to allow my body time to recover from the recent stress. 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. I have spoken with Ducati and thank them for their understanding at this time. I feel very sorry for the factory, my team, my sponsors and the fans and I am also disappointed because the bike in the last races has been very competitive. I will be doing everything possible to come back at full strength for Portugal.”
Stoner has the full support of his team and Ducati. “It’s obviously difficult for us to contemplate the next three races without Casey” said Livio Suppo “but it’s clear that the most important thing at this time is his health. Since his debut with us in Qatar in 2007, Casey has won 18 times as well as taking countless podium finishes, becoming one of the top riders in the World Championship in the process. We have already overcome tough times together, like when he had to undergo surgery on his scaphoid towards the end of last season. We are united whether in times of success or in times of difficulty. We are confident that the doctors will help solve the issues that have affected him since early June and that Casey will be able to take part in the last races of the year in peak fitness. Then we can prepare for 2010 in the best way possible.”
Pramac rider, Mika Kalio, will step up to the factory team and onto Stoner’s red Desmosedici. Michel Fabrizio will replace Kalio at Pramac.