US MotoGP: Casey Stoner wary of stomach problem

Casey Stoner’s physical condition will be closely monitored in Laguna Seca this weekend as the Aussie looks to get back to winning ways in the American MotoGP race.

Severe stomach cramps have badly hampered Stoner’s victory challenge in the last two races – the 23-year-old having to settle for distant third place finishes behind dominant Fiat Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

An exact cause of Stoner’s physical problems that saw him reveal to MCN that he’d vomited twice in his helmet in Catalunya, has yet to be diagnosed.

The factory Ducati rider is expected to undergo more thorough examinations after this weekend’s Laguna Seca clash, but he said he was hopeful that the issue wouldn’t be a serious disruption in California.

Stoner, who lost out in an enthralling scrap with Rossi at Laguna in 2008, said: “We have had some setbacks over the past couple of races that have prevented us from showing our full potential.

“We have done a lot of work on the bike and found a great set-up for the race on both occasions but I have not been in good shape when it was the moment to take advantage of that work.

“We have come straight to America from Assen and there hasn’t been much time to recover, although I do feel better already. What we learned from last weekend is not to underestimate the symptoms.

“We have the potential to challenge for a good result again but we’ll wait until we get out on track and see how things shape up.”