German MotoGP: Mystery surrounds Casey Stoner health issues

Mystery continues to surround the cause of Casey Stoner’s current health problems after the Aussie denied suffering from mild anaemia on the eve of this weekend’s German MotoGP clash at the Sachsenring.

Contradicting Ducati’s press statement earlier this week that the 23-year-old was diagnosed with mild anaemia and slight gastritis after thorough medical checks in California, Stoner insisted anaemia wasn’t the cause for the health issues that have dogged him at the last three races.

Stoner has suffered a combination of chronic fatigue, nausea and dry vomiting in Catalunya, Assen and Laguna Seca.

The 2007 world champion underwent a series of medical checks with Dr Art Ting and his team immediately after the recent American MotoGP race, with Ducati releasing a statement on Tuesday saying Stoner had slight gastritis and mild anaemia.

But Stoner claims the rigorous tests showed up now obvious cause for his physical problems, which are seriously undermining his title fight with Fiat Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

“I did every test possible but all the blood tests came back perfect. I had a pipe down my throat, in my stomach, scans and I’ve got about 20 puncture marks in my left arm where they were taking blood. It is not anaemia.

“The tests didn’t show anything. It’s anaemia but it’s this much (holding the tip of his little finger). I mean I had ten tons of blood taken from me and my body isn’t working correctly at the moment.

“Anaemia is not going to give me this much of a problem, it will give you a little problem but with all the supplements I’ve got I should have been able to do better in the races.

“Even if you have severe anaemia you would be able to do better than what I’m doing now but the tests showed nothing.”

Given obvious doubts that Stoner could yet again be plagued with the health issues that have seen him finish no higher than third in the last three races this weekend, he said he was hoping for a wet Sachsenring clash to ease the punishment to his body.

He added: “Physically it would help a lot. I’ve struggled the last couple of times in the wet, which I’m trying to understand why but if we can get our bike working well this weekend in the wet then I would much prefer a wet race.

“It would be one of the few times I want a wet race. It would probably be a do or die race for me, go out and win it or bust, it’s been too long since I’ve had an opportunity top try and win.

“The bike has been working well, we haven’t changed much on it mainly because I haven’t got enough energy to go out there and get it perfect. If it was wet it would probably be very welcome.” Stoner starts Sunday’s race trailing Rossi by 16-points coming up to the halfway stage in the championship.

 

 

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